Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 82.djvu/1248

 1206

PUBLIC LAW 90-614-OCT. 21, 1968 OFFICIAL

" District of Columbia Regis ter."

STAT.

PUBLICATION

SEC. 5. (a) The Commissioner shall publish at regular intervals not less frequently than once every two weeks a bulletin to be known as the "District of Columbia Register," in which shall be set forth the full text of all rules filed in the office of the Commissioner during the j3eriod covered by each issue of such bulletin, except that the Commissioner may in his discretion omit from the District of Columbia Register rules the publication of which would be unduly cumbersome, expensive, or otherwise inexpedient, if, in lieu of such publication, there is included in the Register a notice stating the general subject matter of any rule so omitted and stating the manner in which a copy of such rule may be obtained. (b) All courts within the District shall take judicial notice of rules published or of which notice is given in the District of Columbia Register pursuant to this section. (c) Publication in the District of Columbia Register of rules adopted, amended, or repealed by the Commissioner or Council or by any agency shall not be considered as a substitute for publication in one or more newspapers of general circulation when such publication is required by statute. (d) The Commissioner is authorized to publish in the District of Columbia Register, in addition to rules published under authority contained in subsection (a) of this section, (1) cumulative indexes to regulations which have been adopted, amended, or repealed; (2) information on changes in the organization of the District government; (3) notices of public hearings; (4) codifications of rules; and (5) such other matters as the Commissioner may from time to time determine to be of general public interest. PUBLIC

Petitions.

[82

NOTICE

AND

PARTICIPATION

IN

RULEMAKING

SEC. 6. (a) The Commissioner and Council and each independent agency shall, prior to the adoption of any rule or the amendment or repeal thereof, publish in the District of Columbia Register (unless all persons subject thereto are named and either personally served or otherwise have actual notice thereof in accordance with law) notice of the intended action so as to afford interested persons opportunity to submit data and views either orally or in writing, as may be specified in such notice. The publication or service recjuired by this subsection of any notice shall be made not less than thirty days prior to the effective date of the proposed adoption, amendment, or repeal, as the case may be, except as otherwise provided by the Commissioner or Council or the agency upon good cause found and published with the notice. (b) Any interested person may petition the Commissioner or Council or an independent agency, requesting the promulgation, amendment, or repeal of any rule. The Commissioner and Council and each independent agency shall prescribe by rule the form for such petitions, and the procedure for their submission, consideration, and disposition. Nothing in this Act shall make it mandatoiy that the Commissioner or Council or any agency promulgate, amend, or repeal any rule pursuant to a petition therefor submitted in accordance with this section. (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if, in an emergency, as determined by the Commissioner or Council or an independent agency, the adoption of a rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, welfare, or morals, thfe Commissioner or Council or such independent agency may adopt

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