Author: ACR Webmaster

2020-2021 Survey For Sale

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The State and Federal Survey is a valuable tool that contains a wealth of information about administrative rules in the various states.

For example, you can find out which states publish an administrative register or code, determine which branch of government is responsible for publication, and locate contact information for the states.

Appendices include informative statistics, Internet addresses for administrative codes and registers websites, and Internet addresses for administrative rules review information.

This survey is available for US $40. Please fill out the order form and make check or money order payable to ACR Survey.

 

Press Release Administrative Codes and Registers Section of NASS Honors Wisconsin’s Legislative Reference Bureau as the 2020 Robert J. Colborn, Jr. Innovation Award Winner

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Mike Duchek, Senior Legislative Attorney, Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau, (left) and his boss, Rick Champagne, Chief, Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (right) hold the 2020 Colborn Award.

Washington, D.C. —  The Administrative Codes and Registers (ACR) Section of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) awarded the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau the 2020 Robert J. Colburn, Jr. Innovation Award at the association’s virtual annual conference for their work with the state’s Administrative Codes and Registers.

Wisconsin has undertaken a conversion of the Wisconsin Administrative Code and Register from a printed publication to an automated, integrated, and web-only publication system. The Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) implemented this project while discontinuing the printed administrative code and register which reduced significant costs to the state.

Partners in this endeavor with LRB included the Wisconsin Legislative Technology Services Bureau (LTSB) with development, programming, and implementing an automated publication system for the administrative code and register, a new administrative rules website, and a centralized web-based rules document archive.

Completion of the project has reduced the costs and labor required for production while improving the presentation of, and accessibility to, administrative rules–related material on the Wisconsin Legislature’s website for both government and public users.

These efforts modernized Wisconsin’s rule publication practices by moving to an online rule publication system for both the code and register and an online service for notifying subscribers of updates while maintaining the essential functions of the register and the practice of regular, continuous revision of the code.

Because of these homegrown innovative features, the awards committee has selected the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau for their work on the Wisconsin Administrative Code and Register as this year’s Colborn Award recipient.

Administrative Codes and Registers (ACR), a section of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), created the Robert J. Colborn, Jr. Innovation Award in July 2001 in honor of Robert J. Colborn, Jr., who served as the administrator of the Maryland Division of State Documents from 1974 through 2001 and founded ACR. The Robert J. Colborn, Jr. Innovation Award annually recognizes a program that demonstrates creativity and innovation in providing public access to, or managing, administrative rules. It honors the state agency that has made substantial contributions to the flow of information to the public by improving efficiency and delivery of services to citizens, businesses, and other governmental entities.

“We are honored to receive the Colborn Innovation Award and thank the ACR Section of NASS for recognizing Wisconsin’s modernization of its rules publication system. We would also like to thank the Wisconsin Legislative Technology Services Bureau, which assisted us throughout this project. The new rules publication system has changed the way that we do business, providing significant cost savings to taxpayers and increased public access to Wisconsin’s administrative code and register.”, said Richard Champagne, Chief of the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau.

2020 ACR Robert J. Colborn Jr. Committee:
Chair: Trinette Middlebrook
Rules Specialist
State of Idaho, Department of Health and Welfare
Phone: (208) 334-0440

Committee Member: Frank Powell
Rules Specialist
State of Idaho, Department of Health and Welfare
Phone: (208) 334-5775

2020 Summer Virtual Conference – Archive

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ACR 2020 Summer Conference

2020 Summer Virtual Conference Agenda
Location: USA

Administrative Codes and Registers
a Section of the National Association of Secretaries of State
July 15 – 16, 2020

TO REGISTER, CLICK HERE.

All sessions will be held virtually using GoToMeeting.  After registration, NASS will provide your webinar login details via email. Stay tuned for the ACR Bunch!

Wednesday, July 15

12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ~ All times listed are Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

12:00 – 12:15 p.m.    ACR Welcoming Statement by Chris Coffman, ACR President ~ Introduction of Officers and Executive Committee

12:15 – 1:00 p.m.      First ACR Business Meeting

  • 1st Business Meetin Agenda
  • Stevenson, Cooper, and Radcliff resolutions were moved unanimously, without changes for a final adoption vote at the 2nd Business Meeting.
  • Treasurer’s Report: There was one sale of the ACR Survey since the last report.
  • Annual Survey: The annual survey is available to ACR members.
    • The survey was printed by our friends at Thomson Reuters who have supported us for many years.
    • The survey will be available once again for $40. The survey can be purchased through our website.

1:00 – 2:30 p.m.        2020 Virtual Edition of Who’s Who and What’s New

2:30 – 2:45 p.m.        Afternoon Break

2:45 – 4:00 p.m.        Who’s Who and What’s New (continued)

4:00 – 5:00 p.m.        FederalRegister.gov and eCFR – Upgrades and Integrations – presented by John Hyrum Martinez and Steve Frattini, Office of the Federal Register

Thursday, July 16   

12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ~ All times listed are Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.     We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Rules – Idaho Unleashed:  What Happens When Your Administrative Code Expires – presented by Dennis Stevenson

Dennis
Kudos to Dennis – KTVB7
Dennis Retirement Video

1:00 – 2:30 p.m.       Colborn Award Presentation and Demonstration – introduction by Trinette Middlebrook, Awards Committee Chair

2:30 – 2:45 p.m.       Afternoon Break

2:45 – 4:00 p.m.       Virtual Roundtable: Educating Legislators on the Administrative Rules Process – discussion led by Catherine Brindley, Louisiana Register Editor

4:00 – 4:45 p.m.          Second ACR Business Meeting (Must have Acrobat Reader to view pdf documents)

4:45 – 5:00 p.m.       Planning Session: Where Do We Go from Here?
Looking for answers in a strange new normal.

Followed by Closing Comments

Committees
Virtual Summer Conference Program Prepared and Presented by
Chris Coffman, ACR President

Website Committee
Chair: Scott Cancelosi (AZ)
Emily Caudill (KY)
Kristin Carr (CT)

Awards Committee
Chair: Trinette Middlebrook (ID)
Frank Powell (ID)

Archives Committee
Anne Bloomsburg (VA)
Jennifer Meas (WA)

 

Press Release: NASS Administrative Rules Organization Elects National Officers

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For Immediate Release – July 24, 2018

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Administrative Codes and Registers (ACR) Section of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) today announced the election of its new slate of national officers for a two-year cycle. Oklahoma Associate Editor Christopher Coffman will serve as president of the group, which includes administrative rules professionals from the federal government and all fifty states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and American Samoa.

“I am honored to be serving an organization composed of talented professionals dedicated to advancing public awareness and access to the regulatory process,” said Coffman, who has served with the Oklahoma Secretary of State’s Office since 2007.  “I look forward to working with our elected officers to further advance the strategic mission of our organization.”

Along with Coffman, ACR members also selected the following national officers:

•           President:  Christopher Coffman, Oklahoma – Associate Editor

•           Vice-President:  Deanna Maiolo, Colorado – Administrative Rules Program Manager

•           Secretary-Treasurer:  Anne Bloomsburg, Virginia – Assistant Registrar of Regulations

The national officers were elected by full member vote at the NASS 2018 Summer Conference held July 13 to July 16 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They will serve a two-year term ending in July 2020.

Formed in 1978, the NASS Administrative Codes and Registers (ACR) Section brings together federal and state government professionals–often employed by Secretary of State offices–who are responsible for reviewing and compiling government rules and regulations. Some members also oversee the production of “blue books,” which are official government directories and fact books for the states.

ACR members are committed to fostering the development of better rule-writing skills and rule review techniques and developing more effective management of the rule promulgation process, particularly in the publication of administrative codes and registers. They are also focused on increasing public access to the rulemaking process.

ACR also produces the State and Federal Survey, a biannual survey of codes and registers, comprehensively documenting the operations of state and federal administrative rules “gatekeepers,” publishers and reviewers.

For more information, please visit www.administrativerules.org.

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Media Contact:
Maria (Dill) Benson, Director of Communications
mbenson@sso.org | 202-624-3528 | www.nass.org

2019 Santa Fe Conference Archive

2019 Summer Conference ~ Archive

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Conference Archive
Details for the 2019 NASS Summer Conference Press Release are as follows:
Dates: June 30 -July 3, 2019
Location: Eldorado Hotel
Santa Fe, New Mexico

*REGISTRATION IS CLOSED*

Registration is now open for the NASS 2019 Summer Conference from June 30 – July 3, 2019 at the El Dorado Hotel in Santa Fe, NM!

Click here to save your spot today!

Agendas

ACR – Click here for the ACR conference agency including committee meetings, workshops, shared practice sessions and evening events.

NASS – Click here for the NASS conference agenda including committee meetings, workshops, shared practice sessions and evening events.

Room and Hotel Information

If you have not done so already, please make your hotel reservations immediately. The NASS group rate at the Eldorado Hotel is $123 per night (plus taxes and service fee) and is valid until Thursday, May 30, 2019. Please call 800-955-4455 to make your reservations and mention the National Association of Secretaries of State or click here to make your reservations online.

ACR and NPA will be meeting at the Hilton Santa Fe. There is an additional block of rooms for those attendees at the Hilton. The NASS group rate at the Hilton Santa Fe is $125 per night (plus taxes) and is valid until Thursday, May 30, 2019. Please call 505-988-2811 to make your reservations and mention the National Association of Secretaries of State or click here to make your reservations online.

2019 Committees

Program Committee

Chair: Denise Kipfstuhl (Thomson Reuters)
Christina Muniz (NH)
Michael Duchek (WI)
Yvette Smallwood (DE)

Awards Committee

Chair: Julie Yamaka (OR)
Emma Gradian (WI)
Mike Broschinsky (UT)

Archives Committee

Anne Bloomsburg (VA)
Jennifer Meas (WA)

Website Committee

Chair: Scott Cancelosi (AZ)
Emily Caudill (KY)
Kristin Carr (CT)

Press Release – NASS Administrative Rules Organization Honors Rhode Island Code of Regulations as 2018 Robert J. Colborn, Jr. Innovation Award Winner

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For Immediate Release
July 23, 2018

Washington, D.C. —  The Administrative Codes and Registers (ACR) Section of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) awarded the Rhode Island Code of Regulations with the 2018 Robert J. Colburn, Jr. Innovation Award at the association’s annual conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Rhode Island Code of Regulations (RICR) is a system focused on increasing transparency and encouraging civic engagement in the state’s administrative rulemaking process. The RICR features up-to-the-minute rulemaking data, includes an online public comment module, and displays complete version histories for each rule on one, user-friendly page. The application also allows users to have digital access to supporting documentation and aims to increase accessibility by making rulemaking documents fully searchable and translatable. The RICR also contains a civic education component which endeavors to make the rulemaking process easier for the public to understand. The system was designed to “function more as a conversation, not a monologue.”

“The new Rhode Island Code of Regulations (RICR) is a great example of multiple state agencies and branches of government working efficiently together to create a dynamic, intuitive application in just two years. This innovative collaboration resulted in a comprehensive solution that simplified processes, improved access, and educated the public,” said ACR President Emily Caudill, Kentucky Regulations Compiler. “I am delighted that our members in the Administrative Codes and Registers Section have recognized RICR with the 2018 Colborn Award.”

Administrative Codes and Registers (ACR), a section of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), created the Robert J. Colborn, Jr. Innovation Award in July 2001 in honor of Robert J. Colborn, Jr., who served as the administrator of the Maryland Division of State Documents from 1974 through 2001 and founded ACR. The Robert J. Colborn, Jr. Innovation Award annually recognizes a program that demonstrates creativity and innovation in providing public access to, or managing, administrative rules. It honors the state agency that has made substantial contributions to the flow of information to the public by improving efficiency and delivery of services to citizens, businesses, and other governmental entities.

“As Secretaries of State, we often play the critical role of maintaining government records and ensuring that important information about government is available to our citizens in useful and meaningful ways. The RICR is not simply a website that displays regulations online. It is a portal through which the government and its citizens can communicate about the issues that affect them to make government more transparent, accessible, and efficient,” said Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea, who accepted the award.

2018 ACR Robert J. Colborn Jr. Committee:

Chair: Anne Bloomsburg, Assistant Registrar, Virginia Division of Legislative Services

Member: Deanna Maiolo, Administrative Rules Program Manager, Colorado Secretary of State’s Office

Member: Emily Ewart, Rule Specialist and Policy Analyst, Montana DEQ Waste and Underground Tank Management Bureau
Recent Colborn Award Recipients:

2017 – Wyoming Secretary of State’s Office for the Wyoming Administrative Rules System

2016 – Connecticut eRegulations System

2015 – Iowa’s Public Comment Website for Administrative Rules

2014 – Colorado’s Administrative Rules Program, for Implementation of the Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act

2013 – Utah’s Division of Administrative Rules, for eRules Administrative Rule Filing and Publication System

For more information, visit http://www.administrativerules.org/.

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Media Contact:
Maria (Dill) Benson, Director of Communications
mbenson@sso.org | 202-624-3528 | www.nass.org

Model Interstate Compacts APA is Available Online

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A model interstate compact APA for use in adoption of new interstate compacts and agreements is available.

This model act is “intended for use by states for adoption by new Interstate Compacts/agreements, and may also be incorporated-by-reference into existing Compacts.”

Two versions of the model act may be downloaded. For more information, visit: https://rules.utah.gov/interstatecompact/

2018 Summer Conference ~ Archive

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July 13-16, 2018

Loews Philadelphia
1200 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Celebrate ACR’s 40th Anniversary, Millennium Foyer Saturday 3:35 to 4 p.m.

Hotel

Attendees are responsible for making their own hotel/travel arrangements.
Click Here to Book Now! or
To make reservations by phone, call 888-575-6397.

  • Make sure to ask for the NASS conference room rate which is $202 per night, plus 16.25 percent tax.
  • The rate is guaranteed through June 14, 2018, or until the room block sells out.
  • Any cancellations, no-shows or early departures without 24-hours advance notice will result in the forfeiture of one night deposit.

Transportation

The Loews Philadelphia is approx. 12 miles from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).
Please arrange your own ground transportation. How to get to the hotel:

  • A taxi ride to or from the airport is about $30 one way.
  • Uber and Lyft are available at the Philadelphia International Airport.
  • The Amtrak (PHL) train station is one mile from the Loews located at 2955 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
  • If you are driving valet parking at the hotel is $49 parking daily.

Conference Registration

Registration is now open. Click here.
Early Registration Rates are:

  • ACR Member $500
  • Guest/Spouse $350
  • Child (ages 4-18) $150

ACR Members Nongovernmental

Non-voting members of ACR include private sector rule publishers, compilers, and database editors from various companies or organizations involved with administrative rules. These nongovernmental companies are split into three categories.

  • NASS/ACR Corporate Affiliate: These are corporations who are registered with the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) as a corporate affiliate. The levels for a yearly corporate affiliate include: Platinum,  Gold, and Silver. Contact Stacy Dodd at (202) 624-3525  about becoming a NASS Corporate Affiliate.
    For more information visit http://www.nass.org/corpaffiliates/about-corp-affiliate-program/
  • NASS/ACR Corporate Sponsor: These are companies who sponsor conferences at different levels – from $2,500 up to $20,000. Contact Stacy Dodd at (202) 624-3525  about becoming Summer Conference Sponsor.
  • NASS/ACR Corporate Member: These are companies that are not registered with NASS as a corporate affiliate or corporate sponsor but still want to participate at the ACR winter meeting or summer conference. Some of these members still support ACR by sponsoring an event, or a breakfast, lunch or dinner that are not on the agenda.

A NASS/ACR corporate affiliate and/or sponsor membership has an advantage as the company pays less to sign up for a meeting or conference. Attendees representing a company that are NOT a NASS corporate affiliate or sponsor should register as “corporate non-members.”

  • Staff, Government, or Non-profit $500
  • Corporate Affiliate $500
  • Corporate Non-member $1000

A late registration fee of $100 per person will be added after Thursday, June 14, 2018. Online registration for this event closes July 3, 2018.

Attendees can also attend applicable agenda items on the NASS Conference Agenda

2018 ACR Conference Meeting Agenda

July 13 – July 16, 2018

Unless otherwise noted, all sessions will be held in the Tubman Room, Third Floor of Loews Philadelphia

Blueprint of the third floor with arrow showing where the conference room is located.

Thursday, July 12

Travel Day
Those arriving July 12 meet in the lobby at 6:30 p.m. for ACR group dinner!

Friday, July 13
Conference Registration is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Millennium Foyer.

1:00 – 1:45 p.m.
ACR Officers and Executive Committee Meeting will be conducted in the Tubman Room. This meeting is open to all ACR attendees.

2:00 – 2:15 p.m.
ACR Welcoming Statement will be given by Emily Caudill, ACR President with an Introduction of the ACR Officers and Executive Committee members.

2:15 – 3:45 p.m.
First ACR Business Meeting is slated. The business meeting agendas will be provided. Conducted by Emily Caudill, ACR President.

3:45 – 5:00 p.m.
2018 Edition of Who’s Who and What’s New

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
EVENING EVENT will be held at the National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street. Transportation will be provided (Business Attire)

8:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Dessert Reception will be held at the Barnes Foundation, 2015 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy. Transportation will be provided.

Saturday, July 14

8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Conference Registration  is open on the Millennium Foyer

8:00 – 9 a.m.
Breakfast is served in the Millennium Hall

9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Who’s Who and What’s New (continued)

11:00 – 11:15 a.m.
Morning Break Millennium Foyer

11:15 – 12:00 p.m.
Who’s Who and What’s New (continued) OR Roundtable

12:15 – 1:15 p.m.
NASS/ACR Lunch Millennium Hall

1:30 – 2:45 p.m.
Keeping it Clean: Reducing “Red Tape” and Outdated Rules presented by Karen Howard and Mike Duchek

2:45 – 4:15 p.m.
Second ACR Business Meeting is slated. Conducted by Emily Caudill, ACR President.
Retirement Resolutions:
Stephanie Hoff Retirement Resolution
Jane Chaffin Retirement Resolution

3:45 – 4:00 p.m.
Afternoon Break Millennium Foyer

5:00 p.m.
ACR Networking Session hosted by Thompson Reuters. Meet in the lobby. The networking event will be at the Field House, 1150 Filbert Street,  Casual Attire is recommended.

Saturday, July 16

 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Conference Registration  is open on the Millennium Foyer

8:00 – 9 a.m.
Breakfast is served in the Millennium Hall

9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
Breaking the Code: How States Organize (and Reorganize) Their Rules presented by Jill Ledbetter, Scott Eaton, and Mike Broschinsky

10:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Morning Break Millennium Foyer

10:45 – noon
Colborn Award Presentation and Demonstration with an introduction by Anne Bloomsburg, Awards Committee Chair

12:15 – 1:45 p.m.
NASS/ACR Lunch with IDEAS Award Presentation Millennium Hall

2:00 – 2:45 p.m.
Publisher’s Challenge: New Technology and User Interfaces presented by Denise Kipfstuhl and Rachel Utter

2:45 – 3:00 p.m.
Afternoon Break Millennium Foyer

3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Accessibility Rules! Presented by Whitney Quesenbery

6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
EVENING EVENT  at the Reading Terminal Market ~ Walking distance

Monday, July 15

8:00 – 9 a.m.
Breakfast is served in the Millennium Hall

9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
Rulemaking Pennsylvania Style presented by Laura Campbell

10:30 – 11:00 a.m.
Planning Session: Where Do We Go from Here? Conducted by Emily Caudill, ACR President.

11:00 – 11:15 a.m.
Morning Break Millennium Foyer

11:15 – 11:45
Closing Remarks and Introduction of New Officers. Conducted by Emily Caudill, ACR President.

12:00 – 1:15 p.m.
Lunch with NASS ~ NASS Leadership Ceremony and Induction of the 2018–2019 National Officers Millennium Hall

 

2018 Summer Conference Committees (As of 6/28/2018)

Program Committee
Emily Caudill, Regulations Compiler, Administrative Regulations Section
Legislative Research Commission, Kentucky

Bruce Hoesly, Senior Revising Attorney/Code Editor
Legislative Reference Bureau, Wisconsin

Archives Committee
Chair: John Martinez (NARA)
Committee Member: Kristen Breiner (CT)

Nominations Committee (Chair TBD)
Committee Member: Jane Chaffin (Emeritus/VA)
Committee Member: Yvette Smallwood (DE)
Committee Member: Julie Yamaka (OR)

Awards Committee
Chair: Anne Bloomsburg
Assistant Registrar
Virginia Division of Legislative Services
Phone: (804) 698-1884

Committee Member: Emily Ewart
Rule Specialist and Policy Analyst, Montana
DEQ Waste and Underground Tank Management Bureau

Committee Member: Deanna Maiolo
Program Manager, Colorado
Code of Colorado Regulations Administrative Rules

Web site Committee
Chair: Scott Cancelosi (AZ)
Committee Member: Mike Brochinsky (UT)
Committee Member: Kerry Radcliff (WA)