Office of Regulatory Counsel.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about staffing levels or budget allocations for the Office of Regulatory Counsel.

Office of Regulatory Counsel

This law establishes an Office of Regulatory Counsel within the Governor's office to assist in drafting and reviewing regulations before they are submitted for publication.

What This Bill Does

• Establishes a new Office of Regulatory Counsel within state government under the direction of the Governor.
• Requires the director of this office to be appointed by the Governor with Senate approval.
• Assigns the Office of Regulatory Counsel the task of drafting and reviewing regulations before they are submitted for publication.

Who It Names or Affects

• The Governor's office
• State agencies that create regulations

Terms To Know

Office of Administrative Law (OAL)

A part of the Government Operations Agency that reviews and publishes state agency regulations.

California Regulatory Notice Register

A publication where proposed state regulations are announced for public review.

Limits and Unknowns

• The Office of Regulatory Counsel will only exist until January 1, 2035.
• Details such as the number of employees and budget for this office are not specified in the bill.

Official Summary Text

SB 688, as amended, Niello.
Office of Regulatory Counsel.
Existing law establishes the Government Operations Agency, which consists of several departments including the Office of Administrative Law (OAL). Existing law, the Administrative Procedure Act, governs the procedure for the adoption, amendment, or repeal of regulations by state agencies and for the review of those regulatory actions by the OAL. Existing law requires the OAL to provide for the publication of the California Regulatory Notice Register and to include specified information in the register, including notices of proposed action prepared by regulatory agencies, a summary of regulations filed with the Secretary of State, and a summary of regulation decisions issued, as specified.
This bill, until January 1, 2035, would establish the Office of Regulatory Counsel in state government within the Governor’s
office, under the direction and control of a director. The bill would require the director to be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation of the Senate and for the director’s term to be coterminous with that of the appointing power, except as provided.
This bill would require the office to draft and assist in the preparation, consideration, amendment, and repeal of regulations for a state agency, before the state agency submits a proposed action regarding that regulation to the OAL for publication in the California Regulatory Notice Register.
The bill would make related legislative findings and declarations.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF