CHAPTER 54*
UNIFORM ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE ACT

      Sec. 4-166. Definitions. As used in this chapter:

      (1) "Agency" means each state board, commission, department or officer authorized by law to make regulations or to determine contested cases, but does not include either house or any committee of the General Assembly, the courts, the Council on Probate Judicial Conduct, the Governor, Lieutenant Governor or Attorney General, or town or regional boards of education, or automobile dispute settlement panels established pursuant to section 42-181;

      (2) "Contested case" means a proceeding, including but not restricted to rate-making, price fixing and licensing, in which the legal rights, duties or privileges of a party are required by state statute or regulation to be determined by an agency after an opportunity for hearing or in which a hearing is in fact held, but does not include proceedings on a petition for a declaratory ruling under section 4-176, hearings referred to in section 4-168 or hearings conducted by the Department of Correction or the Board of Pardons and Paroles;

      (3) "Final decision" means (A) the agency determination in a contested case, (B) a declaratory ruling issued by an agency pursuant to section 4-176 or (C) an agency decision made after reconsideration. The term does not include a preliminary or intermediate ruling or order of an agency, or a ruling of an agency granting or denying a petition for reconsideration;

      (4) "Hearing officer" means an individual appointed by an agency to conduct a hearing in an agency proceeding. Such individual may be a staff employee of the agency;

      (5) "Intervenor" means a person, other than a party, granted status as an intervenor by an agency in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of section 4-176 or subsection (b) of section 4-177a;

      (6) "License" includes the whole or part of any agency permit, certificate, approval, registration, charter or similar form of permission required by law, but does not include a license required solely for revenue purposes;

      (7) "Licensing" includes the agency process respecting the grant, denial, renewal, revocation, suspension, annulment, withdrawal or amendment of a license;

      (8) "Party" means each person (A) whose legal rights, duties or privileges are required by statute to be determined by an agency proceeding and who is named or admitted as a party, (B) who is required by law to be a party in an agency proceeding or (C) who is granted status as a party under subsection (a) of section 4-177a;

      (9) "Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association, governmental subdivision, agency or public or private organization of any character, but does not include the agency conducting the proceeding;

      (10) "Presiding officer" means the member of an agency or the hearing officer designated by the head of the agency to preside at the hearing;

      (11) "Proposed final decision" means a final decision proposed by an agency or a presiding officer under section 4-179;

      (12) "Proposed regulation" means a proposal by an agency under the provisions of section 4-168 for a new regulation or for a change in, addition to or repeal of an existing regulation;

      (13) "Regulation" means each agency statement of general applicability, without regard to its designation, that implements, interprets, or prescribes law or policy, or describes the organization, procedure, or practice requirements of any agency. The term includes the amendment or repeal of a prior regulation, but does not include (A) statements concerning only the internal management of any agency and not affecting private rights or procedures available to the public, (B) declaratory rulings issued pursuant to section 4-176 or (C) intra-agency or interagency memoranda;

      (14) "Regulation-making" means the process for formulation and adoption of a regulation.

      (1971, P.A. 854, S. 1; P.A. 73-620, S. 1-3, 19; P.A. 75-529, S. 2, 4; P.A. 78-379, S. 24, 27; P.A. 80-471, S. 1; P.A. 82-338, S. 7; P.A. 87-522, S. 1, 6; P.A. 88-317, S. 1, 107; P.A. 92-160, S. 16, 19; P.A. 95-79, S. 9, 189; P.A. 04-94, S. 1; 04-234, S. 2.)

      History: P.A. 73-620 redefined "agency", specifically excepting the governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general, redefined "contested case", excluding cases involving hearings referred to in Sec. 4-168 and redefined "regulation", specifically excluding interagency memoranda; P.A. 75-529 redefined "agency" to exclude town or regional boards of education; P.A. 78-379 redefined "agency" to exclude judicial review council; P.A. 80-471 redefined "regulation" in Subsec. (7), changed numbered subdivisions to lettered subdivisions and added Subsec. (8) defining "proposed regulation"; P.A. 82-338 redefined "agency" to specifically exclude council on probate judicial conduct; P.A. 87-522 redefined "agency" to exclude automobile dispute settlement panels; P.A. 88-317 rephrased definition of "agency" in Subdiv. (1), amended definition of "contested case" in Subdiv. (2) to exclude proceedings on declaratory ruling petition, added new Subdivs. (3), (4) and (5), defining "final decision", "hearing officer" and "intervenor", renumbered former Subdivs. (3) and (4), defining "license" and "licensing", to (6) and (7), renumbered former Subdiv. (5), defining "party", to Subdiv. (8) and substantially amended the definition, renumbered former Subdiv. (6), defining "person", to Subdiv. (9) and excluded "the agency conducting the proceeding" from the definition in lieu of "an agency", added new Subdivs. (10), (11) and (12), defining "presiding officer", "proposed final decision" and "proposed regulation", renumbered former Subdiv. (7), defining "regulation", to Subdiv. (13), repealed former Subdiv. (8) defining "proposed regulation" and added new Subdiv. (14) defining "regulation-making", effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to agency proceedings commenced on or after said date; P.A. 92-160 amended Subdiv. (1) by deleting reference to judicial review council; P.A. 95-79 redefined "person" to include a limited liability company, effective May 31, 1995; P.A. 04-94 amended definition of "contested case" in Subdiv. (2) by replacing "required by statute" with "required by state statute or regulation" and adding exception for hearings conducted by Department of Correction or Board of Parole; P.A. 04-234 replaced Board of Parole with Board of Pardons and Paroles in Subdiv. (2), effective July 1, 2004.

      See Sec. 4-188a re requirements for exemption of constituent units of higher education from provisions of chapter.

      Cited. 166 C. 337. The term "state board" includes such entities as the Berlin board of education when acting as agent of the state. 167 C. 368. Cited. 168 C. 435. Cited. 172 C. 263. Cited. 173 C. 462. Cited. 176 C. 82. Cited. 184 C. 311. Cited. 186 C. 153. Cited. 191 C. 173. Cited. 198 C. 445. Cited. 207 C. 346. Cited. 211 C. 690. Cited. 212 C. 83. Cited. 213 C. 184. Cited. 214 C. 560. Cited. 215 C. 517. Cited. 216 C. 228. Cited. 220 C. 516. Cited. 231 C. 391. Cited. 238 C. 361. Cited. 239 C. 32. Because Sec. 22a-371 does not require Commissioner of Environmental Protection to conduct hearing to determine whether an application is complete, commissioner's rejection notice for plaintiff's insufficient application did not constitute a final decision in contested case. 263 C. 692. Plaintiff determined to have no statutory right of appeal from decision of Department of Social Services with respect to liens imposed pursuant to Secs. 17b-93 and 17b-94 which provide for reimbursement of Medicaid and public assistance benefits previously paid by state to plaintiff, and therefore hearing is not a "contested case" as defined under Uniform Administrative Procedure Act. Trial court judgment reversed and case remanded with direction to dismiss plaintiff's administrative appeal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. 273 C. 434.

      Cited. 1 CA 1. Cited. 9 CA 622. Cited. 19 CA 713. Cited. 25 CA 555. Harmless error analysis is available in the administrative context. 57 CA 767. Plaintiff was not aggrieved by final decision because the hearing, which was not required by statute, did not constitute contested case within meaning of statute. 75 CA 215.

      Question whether personnel policies of state colleges are "regulations" within meaning of this chapter. 32 CS 153. Cited. 34 CS 225. Sec. 4-166 et seq. cited. 36 CS; Id., 18. Cited. 38 CS 24. Cited. 40 CS 365. Cited. 44 CS 21.

      Subsec. (1):

      Berlin board of education held authorized by law to determine contested cases. 167 C. 368. Cited. 170 C. 668. Exclusions of governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general from definition of "agency" constitute exemptions from chapter. 172 C. 603. Cited. 176 C. 318; Id., 466. Indian affairs council is an "agency" within the meaning of the statute. 180 C. 474. Cited. 181 C. 69. Cited. 183 C. 76. Cited. 193 C. 379. Cited. 195 C. 174. Cited. 207 C. 77; Id., 674. Cited. 208 C. 709. Cited. 217 C. 130. Cited. 228 C. 651. Cited. 231 C. 308. Cited. 235 C. 128. Adoption review board is an "agency". 247 C. 474.

      Cited. 3 CA 464. Cited. 6 CA 473. Cited. 13 CA 1. Cited. 17 CA 429. Cited. 18 CA 13. Cited. 22 CA 181. Cited. 35 CA 769.

      Cited. 39 CS 443.

      Subsec. (2):

      Hearing under section 10-151(b) is a "contested case". 167 C. 368. Cited. 171 C. 348; Id., 691. Cited. 183 C. 76; Id., 128. Cited. 191 C. 497. Cited. 193 C. 379. Cited. 214 C. 726. Cited. 221 C. 422. Cited. 224 C. 693. Cited. 226 C. 105. Court found legislative intent to limit contested case status to proceedings in which agency is required by statute to provide opportunity for hearing determining party's legal rights or privileges. Id., 792. Cited. 231 C. 403. Cited. 234 C. 411. Cited. 235 C. 128. Cited. 239 C. 124. Proceeding of adoption review board constitutes a "contested case". 247 C. 474. Decision, after hearing, terminating authorized vendor from participation in federal Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) was not final decision in a contested case since hearing not required by state statute. 262 C. 222.

      Cited. 2 CA 196. Cited. 28 CA 674. Cited. 37 CA 653; judgment reversed, see 238 C. 361. Cited. Id., 777. Cited. 44 CA 143.

      Cited. 30 CS 118. Cited. 39 CS 202. Cited. 42 CS 413. Cited. 43 CS 386.

      Subsec. (3):

      Cited. 221 C. 422. Subdiv. (A) cited. 224 C. 693. Cited. 227 C. 545. Cited. 231 C. 391. Cited. 232 C. 181. Cited. 234 C. 411. Subdiv. (B) cited. Id., 424. Cited. 239 C. 124. Denial of petition to intervene pursuant to Sec. 22a-19 was not a final decision within meaning of statute because it is not the agency determination in a contested case because, in turn, it does not determine the legal rights, duties or privileges of a party and instead, it is more properly considered as a preliminary or intermediate ruling of the agency. 259 C. 131.

      Cited. 37 CA 653; judgment reversed, see 238 C. 361. Cited. Id., 777. Subdiv. (A) cited. 44 CA 143. Commissioner's decision denying plaintiff's petition for reconsideration is not a final decision. 61 CA 137.

      Subsec. (5):

      Cited. 205 C. 324. Cited. 207 C. 674. Cited. 212 C. 157.

      Cited. 3 CA 416. Cited. 14 CA 376.

      Parties admitted at a Blue Cross rate hearing, need only be served notice of an appeal, not necessarily made parties to the appeals. 31 CS 257.

      Subsec. (6):

      Cited. 226 C. 792. Cited. 235 C. 128.

      Subsec. (7):

      Former section 4-41 defined "regulation" as "designed to implement, interpret or prescribe law or to establish the general policy of such department or agency". 165 C. 559. Not mandatory that such regulations be adopted by motor vehicle department relative to hearings on suspension or revocation of dealers' licenses, but hearings not to violate the fundamentals of natural justice. Id. Cited. 177 C. 356. Cited. 183 C. 76. Applicability of statute to regulations promulgated under Sec. 14-298 discussed. Id., 313. Cited. 187 C. 458. Cited. 191 C. 384. Cited. 200 C. 133; Id., 489. Cited. 204 C. 287.

      Cited. 41 CS 271.

      Subsec. (8):

      Cited. 30 CA 85.

      Subsec. (9):

      Cited. 37 CA 653; judgment reversed, see 238 C. 361.

      Sec. 4-167. Organization description to be adopted. Rules of practice. Public inspection. (a) In addition to other regulation-making requirements imposed by law, each agency shall: (1) Adopt as a regulation a description of its organization, stating the general course and method of its operations and the methods whereby the public may obtain information or make submissions or requests; (2) adopt as a regulation rules of practice setting forth the nature and requirements of all formal and informal procedures available provided such rules shall be in conformance with the provisions of this chapter; and (3) make available for public inspection all regulations and all other written statements of policy or interpretations formulated, adopted or used by the agency in the discharge of its functions, and all forms and instructions used by the agency.

      (b) No agency regulation is enforceable against any person or party, nor may it be invoked by the agency for any purpose, until (1) it has been made available for public inspection as provided in this section and (2) the regulation or a notice of the adoption of the regulation has been published in the Connecticut Law Journal pursuant to section 4-173. This provision is not applicable in favor of any person or party who has actual notice or knowledge thereof. The burden of proving the notice or knowledge is on the agency. The provisions of subdivision (2) of this subsection shall not apply to regulations adopted under subsection (f) of section 4-168.

      (1971, P.A. 854, S. 2; P.A. 73-620, S. 4, 19; P.A. 76-297, S. 1; P.A. 88-317, S. 2, 107.)

      History: P.A. 73-620 made technical changes; P.A. 76-297 required that rules of practice conform to provisions of chapter; P.A. 88-317 repealed former Subdiv. (4) of Subsec. (a), which required final orders, decisions and opinions to be made available for public inspection, and amended Subsec. (b) to provide that no regulation, except an emergency regulation, is enforceable unless regulation or notice published in law journal and to place burden of proving notice on agency, effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to agency proceedings commenced on or after that date.

      Cited. 165 C. 448. Cited. 172 C. 263. Cited. 173 C. 462. Cited. 183 C. 76. Cited. 184 C. 311. Cited. 186 C. 153. Cited. 191 C. 173. Cited. 239 C. 32.

      Cited. 1 CA 1.

      Commission on hospitals and health care decision upheld although the commission failed to adopt rules of practice pursuant to section 4-167 because plaintiff failed to assert claim under section 4-174 at hearing. 32 CS 300. Cited. 40 CS 365.

      Subsec. (a):

      Subdiv. (1) cited. 201 C. 448. Subdiv.(2): Section not violated by department regulation incorporating by reference uniform administrative procedure act rules of procedure. 207 C. 77.

      Cited. 9 CA 622.

      Subsec. (b):

      Cited. 200 C. 489.

      Sec. 4-168. Notice prior to action on regulations. Fiscal notes. Hearings. Adoption procedure. Emergency regulations. (a) Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, an agency, prior to adopting a proposed regulation, shall: (1) Give at least thirty days' notice by publication in the Connecticut Law Journal of its intended action. The notice shall include (A) either a statement of the terms or of the substance of the proposed regulation or a description sufficiently detailed so as to apprise persons likely to be affected of the issues and subjects involved in the proposed regulation, (B) a statement of the purposes for which the regulation is proposed, (C) a reference to the statutory authority for the proposed regulation, and (D) when, where and how interested persons may present their views on the proposed regulation; (2) give notice by mail to each joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of the subject matter of the proposed regulation; (3) give notice by mail to all persons who have made requests to the agency for advance notice of its regulation-making proceedings. The agency may charge a reasonable fee for such notice based on the estimated cost of providing the service; (4) provide a copy of the proposed regulation to persons requesting it. The agency may charge a reasonable fee for copies in accordance with the provisions of section 1-212; (5) following publication of the notice in the Connecticut Law Journal, prepare a fiscal note, including (A) an estimate of the cost or of the revenue impact on the state or any municipality of the state, and (B) if applicable, the regulatory flexibility analysis prepared under section 4-168a. The governing body of any municipality, if requested, shall provide the agency, within twenty working days, with any information that may be necessary for analysis in preparation of such fiscal note; (6) afford all interested persons reasonable opportunity to submit data, views or arguments, orally at a hearing granted under subdivision (7) of this subsection or in writing, and to inspect and copy the fiscal note prepared pursuant to subdivision (5) of this subsection; (7) grant an opportunity to present oral argument if requested by fifteen persons, by a governmental subdivision or agency or by an association having not less than fifteen members, if notice of the request is received by the agency within fourteen days after the date of publication of the notice; and (8) consider fully all written and oral submissions respecting the proposed regulation and revise the fiscal note in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (5) of this subsection to indicate any changes made in the proposed regulation. No regulation shall be found invalid due to the failure of an agency to give notice to each committee of cognizance pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection, provided one such committee has been so notified.

      (b) If an agency is required by a public act to adopt regulations, the agency, within five months after the effective date of the public act or by the time specified in the public act, shall publish in the Connecticut Law Journal the notice required by subsection (a) of its intent to adopt regulations. If the agency fails to publish the notice within such five-month period or by the time specified in the public act, the agency shall submit a written statement of its reasons for failure to do so to the Governor, the joint standing committee having cognizance of the subject matter of the regulations and the standing legislative regulation review committee. The agency shall submit the required regulations to the standing legislative regulation review committee, as provided in subsection (b) of section 4-170, not later than one hundred eighty days after publication of the notice of its intent to adopt regulations, or submit a written statement of its reasons for failure to do so to the committee.

      (c) An agency may begin the regulation-making process under this chapter before the effective date of the public act requiring or permitting the agency to adopt regulations, but no regulation may take effect before the effective date of such act.

      (d) Upon reaching a decision on whether to proceed with the proposed regulation or to alter its text from that initially proposed, the agency, at least twenty days before submitting the proposed regulation to the standing legislative regulation review committee, shall mail to all persons who have made submissions pursuant to subdivision (6) of subsection (a) of this section or who have made statements or oral arguments concerning the proposed regulation and who have requested notification, notice that it has decided to take action on the proposed regulation and that it has made available for copying and inspection pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, as defined in section 1-200: (1) The final wording of the proposed regulation; (2) a statement of the principal reasons in support of its intended action; and (3) a statement of the principal considerations in opposition to its intended action as urged in written or oral comments on the proposed regulation and its reasons for rejecting such considerations.

      (e) Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, no regulation may be adopted, amended or repealed by any agency until it is (1) approved by the Attorney General as to legal sufficiency, as provided in section 4-169, (2) approved by the standing legislative regulation review committee, as provided in section 4-170 and (3) filed in the office of the Secretary of the State, as provided in section 4-172.

      (f) (1) An agency may proceed to adopt an emergency regulation in accordance with this subsection without prior notice or hearing or upon any abbreviated notice and hearing that it finds practicable if (A) the agency finds that adoption of a regulation upon fewer than thirty days' notice is required (i) due to an imminent peril to the public health, safety or welfare or (ii) by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection in order to comply with the provisions of interstate fishery management plans adopted by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission or to meet unforeseen circumstances or emergencies affecting marine resources, (B) the agency states in writing its reasons for that finding and (C) the Governor approves such finding in writing.

      (2) The original of such emergency regulation and eighteen copies shall be submitted to the standing legislative regulation review committee in the form prescribed in subsection (b) of section 4-170, together with a statement of the terms or substance of the intended action, the purpose of the action and a reference to the statutory authority under which the action is proposed, not later than ten days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, prior to the proposed effective date of such regulation. The committee may approve or disapprove the regulation, in whole or in part, within such ten-day period at a regular meeting, if one is scheduled, or may upon the call of either chairman or any five or more members hold a special meeting for the purpose of approving or disapproving the regulation, in whole or in part. Failure of the committee to act on such regulation within such ten-day period shall be deemed an approval. If the committee disapproves such regulation, in whole or in part, it shall notify the agency of the reasons for its action. An approved regulation, filed in the office of the Secretary of the State, may be effective for a period of not longer than one hundred twenty days renewable once for a period of not exceeding sixty days, provided notification of such sixty-day renewal is filed in the office of the Secretary of the State and a copy is given to the committee, but the adoption of an identical regulation in accordance with the provisions of subsections (a), (b) and (d) of this section is not precluded. The sixty-day renewal period may be extended an additional sixty days for emergency regulations described in subparagraph (A)(ii) of subdivision (1) of this subsection, provided the Commissioner of Environmental Protection requests of the standing legislative regulation review committee an extension of the renewal period at the time such regulation is submitted or not less than ten days before the first sixty-day renewal period expires and said committee approves such extension. Failure of the committee to act on such request within ten days shall be deemed an approval of the extension.

      (3) If the necessary steps to adopt a permanent regulation, including publication of notice of intent to adopt, preparation and submission of a fiscal note in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of section 4-170 and approval by the Attorney General and the standing legislative regulation review committee, are not completed prior to the expiration date of an emergency regulation, the emergency regulation shall cease to be effective on that date.

      (g) If an agency finds (1) that technical amendments to an existing regulation are necessary because of (A) the statutory transfer of functions, powers or duties from the agency named in the existing regulation to another agency, (B) a change in the name of the agency, (C) the renumbering of the section of the general statutes containing the statutory authority for the regulation, or (D) a correction in the numbering of the regulation, and no substantive changes are proposed, or (2) that the repeal of a regulation is necessary because the section of the general statutes under which the regulation has been adopted has been repealed and has not been transferred or reenacted, it may elect to comply with the requirements of subsection (a) of this section or may proceed without prior notice or hearing. Any such amendments to or repeal of a regulation shall be submitted in the form and manner prescribed in subsection (b) of section 4-170, to the Attorney General, as provided in section 4-169, and to the standing legislative regulation review committee, as provided in section 4-170, for approval and upon approval shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of the State with, in the case of renumbering of sections only, a correlated table of the former and new section numbers.

      (h) No regulation adopted after October 1, 1985, is valid unless adopted in substantial compliance with this section. A proceeding to contest any regulation on the ground of noncompliance with the procedural requirements of this section shall be commenced within two years from the effective date of the regulation.

      (1971, P.A. 854, S. 3; P.A. 73-616, S. 3; 73-620, S. 5, 19; P.A. 77-604, S. 82, 84; P.A. 78-283, S. 1; P.A. 79-623, S. 4, 5, 8; P.A. 80-471, S. 2; P.A. 83-277, S. 1, 3; P.A. 84-132; P.A. 85-608, S. 1; P.A. 86-250, S. 1, 4; P.A. 88-317, S. 3, 107; P.A. 90-124, S. 1; P.A. 94-179, S. 2; P.A. 96-16; P.A. 97-47, S. 26; P.A. 99-90, S. 2-4; P.A. 00-62; P.A. 05-288, S. 15, 16.)

      History: P.A. 73-616 made technical changes; P.A. 73-620 required that requests to present arguments be made within ten days of proposed regulation's publication and deleted provisions requiring publication of a defense of any regulation's adoption; P.A. 77-604 clarified procedure for adopting emergency regulations by requiring notice to and approval or rejection by regulation review committee at regular or special meeting; P.A. 78-283 allowed disapproval of emergency regulations in whole or in part, required notice to review committee of regulation's renewal and added provisions regarding adoption of emergency regulation as permanent regulation; P.A. 79-623 amended section to include provisions concerning fiscal notes, effective with respect to fiscal year ending June 30, 1980; P.A. 80-471 substantially amended section, in Subsec. (a), changing notice requirement from twenty to thirty days, clarifying contents of notice statement and providing for mailing to interested persons and in Subsec. (b) requiring governor's approval of emergency regulations, changing date of notice to review committee from five to ten days prior to regulation's effective date and requiring regulations to be filed in secretary of the state's office; P.A. 83-277 inserted new Subsec. (c) which sets forth the procedure governing the adoption of technical amendments to agency regulations, relettering former Subsec. (c) accordingly; P.A. 84-132 added requirement that agencies submit proposed regulations to committee within one hundred eighty days after publication of notice and permitted technical amendment of regulations without hearing when general statute under which regulations were adopted is repealed; P.A. 85-608 changed publication of notice requirement in Subsec. (a) from one year to five months or by the first day of November following the passage of the act, whichever is earlier; P.A. 86-250 made technical changes including relettering of subsections and deleted requirement that agencies publish notice of intent to adopt regulations by November first following passage of act requiring adoption; P.A. 88-317 relettered subsections and renumbered subdivisions, rearranged and rephrased provisions, made other technical revisions and amended Subsec. (c) to allow agency to begin regulation-making process before effective date of act requiring or authorizing regulations, effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to agency proceedings commenced on or after that date; P.A. 90-124 amended Subsec. (a) to require an agency, prior to adopting a regulation, to give notice of its intended action to each committee of the general assembly having cognizance of the subject of the regulation and provided that no regulation shall be found invalid due to an agency's failure to give such notice to each such committee if one such committee has been so notified; (Revisor's note: In 1993 the reference in Subsec. (d) to "subdivision (5) of subsection (a)" was changed editorially to "subdivision (6) of subsection (a)" to reflect renumbering of subdivisions in P.A. 90-124, S. 1); P.A. 94-179 amended Subdiv. (5) of Subsec. (a) to require regulatory flexibility analysis to be included in fiscal note, if applicable (Revisor's note: Language newly designated as Subparas. (1) and (2) within Subdiv. (5) was redesignated by the Revisors as Subparas. (A) and (B) for statutory conformity); P.A. 96-16 amended Subsec. (f) to authorize emergency regulations by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection re fishery management and to make technical changes; P.A. 97-47 amended Subsec. (d) by substituting "the Freedom of Information Act, as defined in section 1-18a" for "chapter 3"; P.A. 99-90 amended Subsec. (b) by inserting "as provided in subsection (b) of section 4-170", amended Subsec. (f)(2) by requiring eighteen copies, instead of seventeen copies, to be submitted to regulation review committee and amended Subsec. (g) by inserting "or (D) a correction in the numbering of the regulation,"; P.A. 00-62 amended Subsec. (f)(2) by adding provision allowing additional sixty days for emergency fisheries regulations; P.A. 05-288 made technical changes in Subsecs. (a) and (g), effective July 13, 2005.

      Compliance with sections 4-169 and 4-170 is required by this section. 165 C. 448. Cited. 171 C. 691. Cited. 172 C. 263. Cited. 173 C. 462. Cited. 177 C. 356. Cited. 183 C. 76. Cited. 186 C. 153. Cited. 187 C. 458. Cited. 188 C. 152. Cited. 191 C. 173; Id., 384. Cited. 200 C. 489. Cited. 223 C. 573. Cited. 239 C. 32.

      Cited. 1 CA 1. Cited. 11 CA 693. Cited. 16 CA 497. Cited. 33 CA 775. Cited. 37 CA 653; judgment reversed, see 238 C. 361.

      Cited. 34 CS 225.

      Subsec. (a):

      Cited. 204 C. 287. Cited. 214 C. 601.

      Cited. 42 CS 323.

      Subsec. (b):

      Cited. 184 C. 311.

      Subsec. (d):

      Cited. 12 CA 455.

      Subsec. (f):

      Cited. 42 CS 323.

      Subsec. (h):

      Cited. 25 CA 555.

      Sec. 4-168a. Regulations affecting small businesses. (a) As used in this section:

      (1) "Agency", "proposed regulation" and "regulation" shall have the same meanings as provided in section 4-166; and

      (2) "Small business" means a business entity, including its affiliates, that (A) is independently owned and operated and (B) employs fewer than fifty full-time employees or has gross annual sales of less than five million dollars, provided that an agency, in adopting regulations in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, may define "small business" to include a greater number of full-time employees, not to exceed applicable federal standards or five hundred, whichever is less, if necessary to meet the needs and address specific problems of small businesses.

      (b) Prior to the adoption of any proposed regulation on and after October 1, 1994, each agency shall prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis in which the agency shall, where consistent with public health, safety and welfare, consider utilizing regulatory methods that will accomplish the objectives of applicable statutes while minimizing adverse impact on small businesses. The agency shall consider, without limitation, each of the following methods of reducing the impact of the proposed regulation on small businesses:

      (1) The establishment of less stringent compliance or reporting requirements for small businesses;

      (2) The establishment of less stringent schedules or deadlines for compliance or reporting requirements for small businesses;

      (3) The consolidation or simplification of compliance or reporting requirements for small businesses;

      (4) The establishment of performance standards for small businesses to replace design or operational standards required in the proposed regulation; and

      (5) The exemption of small businesses from all or any part of the requirements contained in the proposed regulation.

      (c) Prior to the adoption of any proposed regulation that may have an adverse impact on small businesses, each agency shall notify the Department of Economic and Community Development of its intent to adopt the proposed regulation. The Department of Economic and Community Development shall advise and assist agencies in complying with the provisions of this section.

      (d) The requirements contained in this section shall not apply to emergency regulations issued pursuant to subsection (c) of section 4-168; regulations that do not affect small businesses directly, including, but not limited to, regulations concerning the administration of federal programs; regulations concerning costs and standards for service businesses such as nursing homes, long-term care facilities, medical care providers, day care facilities, water companies, nonprofit 501(c)(3) agencies, group homes and residential care facilities; and regulations adopted to implement the provisions of sections 4a-60g to 4a-60i, inclusive.

      (P.A. 87-359, S. 1-3; P.A. 94-179, S. 1; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6.)

      History: P.A. 94-179 amended Subsec. (b) by requiring each agency to prepare regulatory flexibility analysis prior to adoption of any proposed regulation on and after October 1, 1994, and amended Subsec. (c) by substituting "department of economic development" for "office of small business affairs"; P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Economic Development with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development.

      Cited. 239 C. 32.

      Sec. 4-168b. Regulation-making record. (a) Each agency shall maintain an official regulation-making record for the period required by law for each regulation it proposes in accordance with the provisions of section 4-168. The regulation-making record and materials incorporated by reference in the record shall be available for public inspection and copying.

      (b) The agency regulation-making record shall contain: (1) Copies of all publications in the Connecticut Law Journal with respect to the regulation or the proceeding upon which the regulation is based; (2) a copy of any written analysis prepared for the proceeding upon which the regulation is based; (3) all written petitions, requests, submissions, and comments received by the agency and considered by the agency in connection with the formulation, proposal or adoption of the regulation or the proceeding upon which the regulation is based; (4) the official transcript, if any, of proceedings upon which the regulation is based or, if not transcribed, any tape recording or stenographic record of such proceedings, and any memoranda prepared by any member or employee of the agency summarizing the contents of the proceedings; (5) a copy of all official documents relating to the regulation, including the regulation filed in the office of the Secretary of the State, a statement of the principal considerations in opposition to the agency's action, and the agency's reasons for rejecting such considerations, as required pursuant to section 4-168 and the fiscal note prepared pursuant to subsection (a) of said section 4-168 and section 4-170; (6) a copy of any petition for the regulation filed pursuant to section 4-174; and (7) copies of all comments or communications between the agency and the legislative regulation review committee.

      (c) The agency regulation-making record need not constitute the exclusive basis for agency action on that regulation or for judicial review thereof.

      (P.A. 88-317, S. 8, 107.)

      History: P.A. 88-317 effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to all agency proceedings commenced on or after that date.

      Cited. 239 C. 32.

      Sec. 4-169. Approval of regulation by Attorney General. No adoption, amendment or repeal of any regulation, except a regulation issued pursuant to subsection (f) of section 4-168, shall be effective until the original of the proposed regulation has been submitted to the Attorney General by the agency proposing such regulation and approved by the Attorney General or by some other person designated by the Attorney General for such purpose. The review of such regulations by the Attorney General shall be limited to a determination of the legal sufficiency of the proposed regulation. If the Attorney General or the Attorney General's designated representative fails to give notice to the agency of any legal insufficiency within thirty days of the receipt of the proposed regulation, the Attorney General shall be deemed to have approved the proposed regulation for purposes of this section. The approval of the Attorney General shall be indicated on the original of the proposed regulation which shall be submitted to the joint standing legislative regulation review committee. As used in this section "legal sufficiency" means (1) the absence of conflict with any general statute or regulation, federal law or regulation or the Constitution of this state or of the United States, and (2) compliance with the notice and hearing requirements of section 4-168.

      (1971, P.A. 854, S. 4; P.A. 80-471, S. 3; P.A. 87-589, S. 19, 87; P.A. 88-317, S. 4, 107; P.A. 01-195, S. 74, 181; P.A. 04-58, S. 3.)

      History: P.A. 80-471 required that the original, rather than a copy, be submitted to attorney general for approval and then submitted to review committee and defined "legal sufficiency" for purposes of section; P.A. 87-589 substituted reference to Subsec. (e) for reference to Subsec. (b) of Sec. 4-168; P.A. 88-317 made technical changes, effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to agency proceedings commencing on or after that date; P.A. 01-195 made technical changes, effective July 11, 2001; P.A. 04-58 made technical changes.

      Cited. 165 C. 448. Cited. 171 C. 691. Cited. 172 C. 263. Cited 173 C. 462. Cited. 177 C. 356. Cited. 186 C. 153. Cited. 187 C. 458. Cited. 191 C. 173; Id., 384. Cited. 239 C. 32.

      Cited. 1 CA 1. Cited. 26 CA 132.

      Cited. 34 CS 225.

      Sec. 4-170. Legislative regulation review committee. Filing requirements for regulations. Fiscal notes required. (a) There shall be a standing legislative committee to review all regulations of the several state departments and agencies following the proposal thereof, which shall consist of eight members of the House of Representatives, four from each major party, to be appointed on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January in the odd-numbered years, by the speaker of said House, and six members of the Senate, three from each major party, to be appointed on or before said dates by the president pro tempore of the Senate. The members shall serve for the balance of the term for which they were elected. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the authority making the appointment. The members of the committee shall elect from among their members two cochairpersons, one of whom shall be a member of the Senate and one of whom shall be a member of the House of Representatives, and either of whom may call meetings of the committee for the performance of its duties.

      (b) (1) No adoption, amendment or repeal of any regulation, except a regulation issued pursuant to subsection (f) of section 4-168, shall be effective until (A) the original of the proposed regulation approved by the Attorney General, as provided in section 4-169, and eighteen copies thereof are submitted to the standing legislative regulation review committee at the designated office of the committee, in a manner designated by the committee, by the agency proposing the regulation, (B) the regulation is approved by the committee, at a regular meeting or a special meeting called for the purpose, and (C) the regulation is filed in the office of the Secretary of the State by the agency, as provided in section 4-172. (2) The date of submission for purposes of subsection (c) of this section shall be the first Tuesday of each month. Any regulation received by the committee on or before the first Tuesday of a month shall be deemed to have been submitted on the first Tuesday of that month. Any regulation submitted after the first Tuesday of a month shall be deemed to be submitted on the first Tuesday of the next succeeding month. (3) The form of proposed regulations which are submitted to the committee shall be as follows: New language added to an existing regulation shall be in capital letters or underlining, as determined by the committee; language to be deleted shall be enclosed in brackets and a new regulation or new section of a regulation shall be preceded by the word "(NEW)" in capital letters. Each proposed regulation shall have a statement of its purpose following the final section of the regulation. (4) The committee may permit any proposed regulation, including, but not limited to, a proposed regulation which by reference incorporates in whole or in part, any other code, rule, regulation, standard or specification, to be submitted in summary form together with a statement of purpose for the proposed regulation. On and after October 1, 1994, if the committee finds that a federal statute requires, as a condition of the state exercising regulatory authority, that a Connecticut regulation at all times must be identical to a federal statute or regulation, then the committee may approve a Connecticut regulation that by reference specifically incorporates future amendments to such federal statute or regulation provided the agency that proposed the Connecticut regulation shall submit for approval amendments to such Connecticut regulations to the committee not later than thirty days after the effective date of such amendment, and provided further the committee may hold a public hearing on such Connecticut amendments. (5) The agency shall prepare a fiscal note, including an estimate of the cost or of the revenue impact on the state and any municipality, and shall append a copy of the note to each copy of the proposed regulation. At the time of submission to the committee, the agency shall mail or submit a copy of the proposed regulation and the fiscal note, prepared in accordance with subsection (a) of section 4-168, to (A) the Office of Fiscal Analysis which, within seven days of receipt, shall submit an analysis of the fiscal note to the committee; and (B) each joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of the subject matter of the proposed regulation. No regulation shall be found invalid due to the failure of an agency to submit a copy of the proposed regulation and the fiscal note to each committee of cognizance, provided such regulation and fiscal note has been submitted to one such committee.

      (c) The committee shall review all proposed regulations and, in its discretion, may hold public hearings thereon, and may approve, disapprove or reject without prejudice, in whole or in part, any such regulation. If the committee fails to so approve, disapprove or reject without prejudice a proposed regulation, within sixty-five days after the date of submission as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the committee shall be deemed to have approved the proposed regulation for purposes of this section.

      (d) If the committee disapproves a proposed regulation in whole or in part, it shall give notice of the disapproval and the reasons for the disapproval to the agency, and no agency shall thereafter issue any regulation or directive or take other action to implement such disapproved regulation or part thereof, as the case may be, except that the agency may adopt a substantively new regulation in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, provided the General Assembly may reverse such disapproval under the provisions of section 4-171. If the committee disapproves any regulation proposed for the purpose of implementing a federally subsidized or assisted program, the General Assembly shall be required to either sustain or reverse the disapproval.

      (e) If the committee rejects a proposed regulation without prejudice, in whole or in part, it shall notify the agency of the reasons for the rejection and the agency shall resubmit the regulation in revised form, if the adoption of such regulation is required by the general statutes or any public or special act, not later than the first Tuesday of the second month following such rejection without prejudice and may so resubmit any other regulation, in the same manner as provided in this section for the initial submission with a summary of revisions identified by paragraph. The committee shall review and take action on such revised regulation no later than thirty-five days after the date of submission, as provided in subsection (b) of this section. Publication of the notice in the Connecticut Law Journal pursuant to the provisions of section 4-168 shall not be required in the case of such resubmission.

      (f) If an agency fails to file any regulation approved in whole or in part by the standing legislative regulation review committee in the office of the Secretary of the State as provided in section 4-172, within fourteen days after the date of approval, the agency shall notify the committee, within five days after such fourteen-day period, of its reasons for not so filing. If any agency fails to comply with the time limits established under subsection (b) of section 4-168 or under subsection (e) of this section, the administrative head of such agency shall submit to the committee a written explanation of the reasons for such noncompliance. The committee, upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds of its members, may grant an extension of the time limits established under subsection (b) of section 4-168 and under subsection (e) of this section. If no such extension is granted, the administrative head of the agency shall personally appear before the standing legislative regulation review committee, at a time prescribed by the committee, to explain such failure to comply. After any such appearance, the committee may, upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds of its members, report such noncompliance to the Governor. Within fourteen days thereafter the Governor shall report to the committee concerning the action the Governor has taken to ensure compliance with the provisions of section 4-168 and with the provisions of this section.

      (1971, P.A. 854, S. 5; 1972, P.A. 258, S. 2; P.A. 73-396, S. 1, 2; P.A. 76-297, S. 2; 76-434, S. 3, 12; P.A. 78-283, S. 2; P.A. 79-623, S. 2, 8; P.A. 80-471, S. 4; P.A. 83-322, S. 1, 2; P.A. 85-608, S. 2; P.A. 86-250, S. 2, 4; 86-403, S. 9, 132; P.A. 88-317, S. 5, 107; P.A. 90-124, S. 2; P.A. 94-76; P.A. 95-41; P.A. 99-90, S. 5; P.A. 01-195, S. 75, 181; P.A. 05-288, S. 17.)

      History: 1972 act specified the form of proposed regulations to be presented to regulation review committee; P.A. 73-396 changed date of appointment from July 1 to the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January of odd-numbered years and required seventeen copies rather than one copy to be given the review committee; P.A. 76-297 allowed submission of regulations in summary form and included procedure for course of action if committee rejects resolution without prejudice; P.A. 76-434 deleted provision providing per diem and reimbursement for expenses; P.A. 78-283 required that regulations be filed in secretary of the state's office and required notification of review committee if filing not performed; P.A. 79-623 added provisions concerning fiscal notes; P.A. 80-471 revised form of submitted regulations and permitted summary form; P.A. 83-322 specified the date of submission of proposed regulations for the purposes of Subsec. (c), and required that the proposed regulations be submitted at the designated office of the legislative regulation review committee; P.A. 85-608 upon disapproval of a proposed regulation, mandated adoption of a substantively new regulation, when required by public act and permitted adoption of any other regulation, mandated resubmission of revised regulation, if the adoption of such regulation is required by public act and permitted resubmission of any other regulation and provided procedures upon failure to comply with time limits imposed by Sec. 4-168; P.A. 86-250 made technical changes, deleted requirement that agency adopt a substantively new regulation in case of disapproval by committee and specified time for resubmittal of regulation rejected without prejudice; P.A. 86-403 made technical change; P.A. 88-317 made technical changes, effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to agency proceedings commencing on or after that date; P.A. 90-124 amended Subsec. (b) to require that agency, at the time of submission of a proposed regulation to the regulation review committee, submit such regulation to each committee of the general assembly having cognizance of the subject of the regulation and provided no regulation shall be found invalid due to an agency's failure to submit such regulation to each such committee if such submission has been made to one such committee; P.A. 94-76 in Subsec. (b) authorized the approval of a Connecticut regulation which specifically incorporates future amendments to a federal statute or regulation; P.A. 95-41 amended Subsec. (e) to change date by which committees shall review and take action on revised regulation from "within" to "no later than" thirty-five days after date of submission; P.A. 99-90 amended Subsec. (b) by dividing the Subsec. into Subdivs. and Subparas., substituting "eighteen copies" for "seventeen copies" and inserting ", in a manner designated by the committee," in Subdiv. (1), and allowing new language in a regulation to be underlined as an alternative to capital letters, as determined by the committee, in Subdiv. (2) and made technical changes; P.A. 01-195 made technical changes in Subsec. (f), effective July 11, 2001; P.A. 05-288 made a technical change in Subsec. (c), effective July 13, 2005.

      Cited. 165 C. 448. Cited. 168 C. 597. Cited. 171 C. 691. Cited. 172 C. 263. Cited. 173 C. 462. Cited. 177 C. 356. Constitutionality of statute not in question since disputed regulation was not subject to review under the statutes. 183 C. 313. Cited. 186 C. 153. Cited. 187 C. 458. Cited. 191 C. 173; Id., 384. Cited. 200 C. 133. Cited. 202 C. 583. Cited. 204 C. 122; Id., 287. Cited. 215 C. 590. Cited. 217 C. 631. Cited. 221 C. 206. Cited. 232 C. 599. Cited. 234 C. 614. Cited. 239 C. 32.

      Cited. 1 CA 1. Cited. 26 CA 132. Cited. 28 CA 145.

      Cited. 34 CS 225. Cited. 42 CS 602.

      Subsec. (b):

      Cited. 39 CA 216.

      Sec. 4-170a. Review of old regulations. Section 4-170a is repealed.

      (P.A. 73-512; P.A. 88-317, S. 106, 107.)

      Sec. 4-170b. Agency submission to legislative regulation review committee upon failure to submit or resubmit required regulations. On or before December first of each year, each agency shall submit to the standing legislative regulation review committee:

      (1) A list of every section of the general statutes that requires the agency to adopt regulations on or before January first of such year if the agency (A) has not submitted the proposed regulations to the committee as provided in section 4-170 by said December first, or (B) submitted proposed regulations which were rejected without prejudice by the committee and the agency has not resubmitted the proposed regulations to the committee as provided in section 4-170 by said December first;

      (2) A date by which the agency proposes to submit or resubmit each of the proposed regulations; and

      (3) An explanation in writing by the administrative head of the agency of the reasons each such proposed regulation was not submitted or resubmitted to the committee on or before the date by which the agency is required by the general statutes to adopt the regulation.

      (P.A. 97-29, S. 1, 3.)

      History: P.A. 97-29 effective July 1, 1997.

      Sec. 4-171. Submission to General Assembly of disapproved regulations and list of required regulations not submitted or resubmitted to legislative regulation review committee. On or before February fifteenth of each regular session of the General Assembly, the cochairpersons of the standing legislative regulation review committee shall submit to the General Assembly for its study (1) a copy of all proposed regulations which have been disapproved by the standing committee under subsection (c) of section 4-170, and (2) a list by agency of each section of the general statutes that requires the agency to adopt regulations on or before January first of the preceding year which the agency did not submit or resubmit to the committee by December first of such year as provided in section 4-170b. Such regulations that were disapproved shall be referred by the speaker of the House or by the president pro tempore of the Senate to an appropriate committee for its consideration and the committee shall schedule hearings thereon. The General Assembly may, by resolution, either sustain or reverse a vote of disapproval of the standing committee under the provisions of said subsection (c), except that if the General Assembly fails during its regular session to reverse by resolution the disapproval of a regulation proposed for the purpose of implementing a federally subsidized or assisted program, the vote of disapproval shall be deemed sustained for purposes of this section and the proposed regulation shall not become effective. Any action of the General Assembly under the provisions of this section shall be effective as of the date of passage of the resolution in the second house of the General Assembly.

      (1971, P.A. 854, S. 6; P.A. 76-297, S. 3; P.A. 80-471, S. 5; P.A. 88-317, S. 6, 107; P.A. 90-230, S. 4, 101; P.A. 97-29, S. 2, 3.)

      History: P.A. 76-297 clarified officer of senate intended by making "president of the senate" "president pro tempore ..."; P.A. 80-471 replaced reference to Subsec. (b) of Sec. 4-170 with reference to Subsec. (c) and changed provisions regarding sustaining disapproval of regulations to provisions regarding reversal of disapproval of regulations; P.A. 88-317 made technical changes, effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to agency proceedings commencing on or after that date; P.A. 90-230 made a technical change; P.A. 97-29 added requirement for submission of list of required agency regulations not submitted or resubmitted as provided in Sec. 4-170b, effective July 1, 1997.

      Cited. 171 C. 691. Cited. 172 C. 263. Cited. 173 C. 462. Cited. 186 C. 153. Cited. 191 C. 173. Cited. 239 C. 32.

      Cited. 1 CA 1.

      Sec. 4-172. Certified copies of regulations filed with Secretary of the State. Effective date. Publication. (a) After approval of a regulation as required by sections 4-169 and 4-170, or after reversal of a decision of the standing committee by the General Assembly pursuant to section 4-171, each agency shall file in the office of the Secretary of the State two certified copies of such regulation. Each regulation when filed shall be in the form intended for publication, and each section of the regulation shall include the appropriate regulation section number and a section heading. The Secretary of the State shall keep a permanent register of the regulations open to public inspection.

      (b) Each regulation hereafter adopted is effective upon filing, except that: (1) If a later date is required by statute or specified in the regulation, the later date is the effective date; (2) a regulation may not be effective before the effective date of the public act requiring or permitting the regulation; and (3) subject to applicable constitutional or statutory provisions, an emergency regulation becomes effective immediately upon filing with the Secretary of the State, or at a stated date less than twenty days thereafter, if the agency finds that this effective date is necessary because of imminent peril to the public health, safety, or welfare. The agency's finding and a brief statement of the reasons therefor shall be filed with the regulation. The agency shall take appropriate measures to make emergency regulations known to the persons who may be affected by them.

      (c) The Secretary of the State, upon receipt of the certified copies of each regulation as provided in subsection (a) of this section, shall include the effective date of the particular regulation on one copy thereof, and forward the copy to the Commission on Official Legal Publications which shall publish the regulation in accordance with the provisions of section 4-173.

      (1971, P.A. 854, S. 7; P.A. 88-317, S. 7, 107.)

      History: P.A. 88-317 added new Subdiv. (2) to Subsec. (b), providing that a regulation may not be effective before effective date of act requiring or permitting the regulation, and made technical changes, effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to agency proceedings commencing on or after that date.

      Cited. 165 C. 448. Cited. 171 C. 691. Cited. 172 C. 263. Cited. 173 C. 462. Cited. 177 C. 356. Cited. 183 C. 313. Cited. 186 C. 153. Cited. 187 C. 458. Cited. 191 C. 173; Id., 384. Cited. 239 C. 32.

      Cited. 1 CA 1.

      Cited. 34 CS 225.

      Sec. 4-173. Publication of compilation of regulations and supplements. (a) The Commission on Official Legal Publications shall publish and distribute a compilation of all effective regulations adopted by all state agencies subsequent to October 27, 1970, except regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (f) of section 4-168. Such publication may be a supplement to or revision of the most current compilation, and shall be published at least semiannually. The Commission on Official Legal Publications may omit from such compilation (1) any regulation that is incorporated by reference into a Connecticut regulation and published by or otherwise available in printed form from a federal agency, a government agency of another state or a commercial publishing company, (2) any regulation that is too expensive to publish, or (3) any regulation the publication of which would be unduly cumbersome. If the commission omits a regulation from the compilation, it shall publish in the compilation a notice identifying the omitted regulation, stating the general subject matter of the regulation and stating an address, telephone number and any other information needed to obtain a copy of the regulation. Such address and telephone number shall be kept current in each semiannual publication of the compilation. The commission shall publish any regulation that has been omitted from publication under subdivision (2) of this subsection as soon as the commission has sufficient funds.

      (b) The Commission on Official Legal Publications shall in addition cause to be published in the Connecticut Law Journal at least monthly the text of all regulations received by the commission from the office of the Secretary of the State pursuant to section 4-172 during the preceding month. The commission may omit from the Connecticut Law Journal (1) any regulation submitted in accordance with subsection (g) of section 4-168, for the purposes of renumbering sections only, if a correlated table of the former and new section numbers is published in lieu of the full text, (2) any regulation that is incorporated by reference into a Connecticut regulation and published by or otherwise available in printed form from a federal agency, a government agency of another state or a commercial publishing company, and (3) any regulation the publication of which would be too expensive or unduly cumbersome. If the commission omits a regulation from publication in the Connecticut Law Journal under subdivision (2) or (3) of this subsection, the commission shall publish in the Connecticut Law Journal a notice identifying the omitted regulation, stating the general subject matter of the regulation and stating an address, telephone number and any other information needed to obtain a copy of the regulation.

      (c) Each agency which adopts a regulation shall make the regulation available for inspection and copying at its main office.

      (d) Any publication made pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall be made available upon request to agencies and officials of this state free of charge, and to other persons at prices fixed by the Commission on Official Legal Publications, in accordance with section 51-216b.

      (e) The compilation of regulations published under subsection (a) of this section and all Connecticut regulations omitted from the compilation under subsection (a) shall be maintained in the reference collection of each law library described in section 11-19a.

      (1971, P.A. 854, S. 8; P.A. 76-297, S. 4; P.A. 80-471, S. 6; P.A. 83-277, S. 2, 3; P.A. 88-133; P.A. 05-288, S. 18.)

      History: P.A. 76-297 deleted previous Subsec. (a) requiring publication of regulations and index by October 27, 1970, and relettered remaining Subsecs. accordingly, deleting provision for periodic publication of revised index by commission on official legal publications in current Subsec. (a) (formerly Subsec. (b)); P.A. 80-471 deleted reference to regulations adopted pursuant to Subsec. (b) of Sec. 4-168 in Subsec. (b) of section; P.A. 83-277 amended Subsec. (b) by allowing the publication of a correlated table of former and new section numbers for those regulations submitted with technical changes; P.A. 88-133 replaced exceptions to publication of regulations in Subsec. (c) with enumerated exceptions in Subsecs. (a) and (b), added a requirement in Subsecs. (a) and (b) for publication of notice of omitted regulations, inserted new Subsec. (c) requiring agencies to make regulations available for inspection and copying, added new Subsec. (e) requiring all regulations to be maintained in law libraries and made technical changes; P.A. 05-288 made technical changes in Subsecs. (a) and (b), effective July 13, 2005.

      Cited. 171 C. 691. Cited. 172 C. 263. Cited. 173 C. 462. Cited. 186 C. 153. Cited. 191 C. 173. Cited. 239 C. 32.

      Cited. 1 CA 1. Cited. 25 CA 555.

      Sec. 4-174. Petition for regulation. Any interested person may petition an agency requesting the promulgation, amendment, or repeal of a regulation. Each agency shall prescribe by regulation the form for petitions and the procedure for their submission, consideration, and disposition. Within thirty days after submission of a petition, the agency either shall deny the petition in writing stating its reasons for the denials or shall initiate regulation-making proceedings in accordance with section 4-168.

      (1971, P.A. 854, S. 9.)

      Cited. 169 C. 344. Cited. 171 C. 691. Cited. 172 C. 263. Cited. 173 C. 462. Cited. 179 C. 111. Cited. 186 C. 153. Cited. 191 C. 173. Cited. 239 C. 32. Section not intended to grant right to petition for regulations to persons who have no specific, legally protectible interest that would be, or potentially could be, affected by the regulations. 278 C. 197.

      Cited. 1 CA 1.

      Cited. 32 CS 300.

      Sec. 4-175. Declaratory judgment action to determine validity of a regulation or applicability of a statute, regulation or final decision. (a) If a provision of the general statutes, a regulation or a final decision, or its threatened application, interferes with or impairs, or threatens to interfere with or impair, the legal rights or privileges of the plaintiff and if an agency (1) does not take an action required by subdivision (1), (2) or (3) of subsection (e) of section 4-176, within sixty days of the filing of a petition for a declaratory ruling, (2) decides not to issue a declaratory ruling under subdivision (4) or (5) of subsection (e) of said section 4-176, or (3) is deemed to have decided not to issue a declaratory ruling under subsection (i) of said section 4-176, the petitioner may seek in the Superior Court a declaratory judgment as to the validity of the regulation in question or the applicability of the provision of the general statutes, the regulation or the final decision in question to specified circumstances. The agency shall be made a party to the action.

      (b) When the action for declaratory judgment concerns the applicability or validity of a regulation, the agency shall, within thirty days after service of the complaint, transmit to the court the original or a certified copy of the regulation-making record relating to the regulation. The court may order the agency to transcribe any portion of the regulation-making record that has not been transcribed and transmit to the court the original or a certified copy of the transcription. By stipulation of all parties, the record may be shortened. A party unreasonably refusing to stipulate to limit the record may be taxed by the court for the additional costs.

      (1971, P.A. 854, S. 10; P.A. 73-620, S. 7, 19; P.A. 76-436, S. 251, 681; P.A. 78-280, S. 5, 127; P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; 88-317, S. 9, 107.)

      History: P.A. 73-620 included regulations and agency orders, deleting references to rules and changed basis for rendering declaratory judgments; P.A. 76-436 replaced court of common pleas with superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 78-280 replaced "Hartford county" with "the judicial district of Hartford-New Britain"; P.A. 88-230 proposed to replace reference to "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain" with "judicial district of Hartford" effective September 1, 1991, but said reference was deleted by P.A. 88-317; P.A. 88-317 designated former provisions as Subsec. (a), amended Subsec. (a) to allow action re applicability of provision of general statutes and to substantially revise agency action or inaction required before declaratory judgment may be sought and added Subsec. (b) re transmission of regulation-making record to court, effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to agency proceedings commencing on or after that date.

      Jurisdiction under this section which specifically provides for declaratory judgments under the Uniform Administrative Procedure Act depends on whether the plaintiff's rights or privileges have been threatened or impaired. 165 C. 448. Cited. 171 C. 691. Cited. 172 C. 263. Cited. 173 C. 352. Cited. 178 C. 586. Cited. 183 C. 76. Cited. 186 C. 153. Cited. 191 C. 173. Cited. 192 C. 460. Cited. 194 C. 165. Cited. 197 C. 554. Cited. 199 C. 609. Cited. 204 C. 67. Cited. 207 C. 346. Cited. 208 C. 663. Cited. 211 C. 436. Cited. 214 C. 256. Cited. 215 C. 616. Cited. 218 C. 335. Cited. 239 C. 32; Id., 599.

      Cited. 1 CA 1. Cited. 6 CA 723. Cited. 17 CA 17; judgment reversed, see 212 C. 570. Cited. 34 CA 123. Court found no requirement that prisoner have a liberty interest before he can seek a determination as to validity of agency regulation that he claims interferes with or impairs or threatens to interfere with or impair his legal rights or privileges. 64 CA 258. Owner of land abutting property on which Department of Public Health recommended installation of a subsurface sewage disposal system does not have standing to challenge recommendation since no statute, regulation or decision applied to the facts. 65 CA 201.

      Procedure to challenge regulation. 32 CS 153. Cited. 33 CS 86. Cited. 35 CS 13. Cited. 39 CS 99; Id., 462.

      Subsec. (a):

      Cited. 219 C. 520. Cited. 222 C. 414. Subdiv. (3) cited. 239 C. 124.

      Sec. 4-176. Declaratory rulings. Petitions. Regulations. (a) Any person may petition an agency, or an agency may on its own motion initiate a proceeding, for a declaratory ruling as to the validity of any regulation, or the applicability to specified circumstances of a provision of the general statutes, a regulation, or a final decision on a matter within the jurisdiction of the agency.

      (b) Each agency shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, that provide for (1) the form and content of petitions for declaratory rulings, (2) the filing procedure for such petitions and (3) the procedural rights of persons with respect to the petitions.

      (c) Within thirty days after receipt of a petition for a declaratory ruling, an agency shall give notice of the petition to all persons to whom notice is required by any provision of law and to all persons who have requested notice of declaratory ruling petitions on the subject matter of the petition.

      (d) If the agency finds that a timely petition to become a party or to intervene has been filed according to the regulations adopted under subsection (b) of this section, the agency: (1) May grant a person status as a party if the agency finds that the petition states facts demonstrating that the petitioner's legal rights, duties or privileges shall be specifically affected by the agency proceeding; and (2) may grant a person status as an intervenor if the agency finds that the petition states facts demonstrating that the petitioner's participation is in the interests of justice and will not impair the orderly conduct of the proceedings. The agency may define an intervenor's participation in the manner set forth in subsection (d) of section 4-177a.

      (e) Within sixty days after receipt of a petition for a declaratory ruling, an agency in writing shall: (1) Issue a ruling declaring the validity of a regulation or the applicability of the provision of the general statutes, the regulation, or the final decision in question to the specified circumstances, (2) order the matter set for specified proceedings, (3) agree to issue a declaratory ruling by a specified date, (4) decide not to issue a declaratory ruling and initiate regulation-making proceedings, under section 4-168, on the subject, or (5) decide not to issue a declaratory ruling, stating the reasons for its action.

      (f) A copy of all rulings issued and any actions taken under subsection (e) of this section shall be promptly delivered to the petitioner and other parties personally or by United States mail, certified or registered, postage prepaid, return receipt requested.

      (g) If the agency conducts a hearing in a proceeding for a declaratory ruling, the provisions of subsection (b) of section 4-177c, section 4-178 and section 4-179 shall apply to the hearing.

      (h) A declaratory ruling shall be effective when personally delivered or mailed or on such later date specified by the agency in the ruling, shall have the same status and binding effect as an order issued in a contested case and shall be a final decision for purposes of appeal in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183. A declaratory ruling shall contain the names of all parties to the proceeding, the particular facts on which it is based and the reasons for its conclusion.

      (i) If an agency does not issue a declaratory ruling within one hundred eighty days after the filing of a petition therefor, or within such longer period as may be agreed by the parties, the agency shall be deemed to have decided not to issue such ruling.

      (j) The agency shall keep a record of the proceeding as provided in section 4-177.

      (1971, P.A. 854, S. 11; P.A. 73-620, S. 8, 19; P.A. 82-349, S. 3, 4; 82-472, S. 178, 183; P.A. 88-317, S. 10, 107.)

      History: P.A. 73-620 made issuance of declaratory rulings discretionary and made provision for procedure if agency fails to issue ruling if requested to do so; P.A. 82-349 added provision re appeals pursuant to Secs. 4-175 and 4-183; P.A. 82-472 made a technical change, replacing appeal with remedy consisting of action for declaratory judgment; P.A. 88-317 substituted new provisions for the entire former section, effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to all agency proceedings commencing on or after that date.

      Cited. 169 C. 344. Cited. 171 C. 691. Cited. 172 C. 263. Cited. 173 C. 352. Cited. 177 C. 356; 178 C. 586. Cited. 183 C. 67; Id., 76. Cited. 186 C. 153. Cited. 191 C. 173. Cited. 192 C. 460. Cited. 194 C. 165. Cited. 197 C. 91; Id., 554. Cited. 199 C. 609. Cited. 200 C. 133. Cited. 203 C. 295. Cited. 204 C. 137. Cited. 208 C. 663; Id., 709. Cited. 210 C. 349; Id., 531. Cited. 213 C. 184. Cited. 214 C. 256; Id., 726. Cited. 215 C. 616. Cited. 216 C. 253. Cited. 218 C. 335. Cited. 221 C. 422. Cited. 222 C. 414. Cited. 223 C. 450. Cited. 226 C. 792. Cited. 227 C. 545. Cited. 234 C. 424. Cited. 239 C. 32; Id., 124; Id., 599.

      Cited. 1 CA 1. Cited. 2 CA 68. Cited. 4 CA 117. Cited. 5 CA 253. Cited. 6 CA 723. Cited. 17 CA 17; judgment reversed, see 212 C. 570. Cited. 21 CA 629; Id., 678. Cited. 31 CA 400; judgment reversed, see 230 C. 459. Cited. 34 CA 123. Cited. 37 CA 653; judgment reversed, see 238 C. 361. Cited. 42 CA 631.

      Challenge to regulation should begin with petition under this section. Adverse ruling is appealable under section 4-183 and failure to issue ruling permits action under section 4-175. 32 CS 153. Cited. 33 CS 86. Cited. 39 CS 99; Id., 462. Cited. 40 CS 381. Cited. 44 CS 1.

      Subsec. (a):

      Cited. 43 CA 133.

      Subsec. (e):

      Subdiv. (1) cited. 236 C. 681.

      Subdiv. (2) cited. 41 CA 827. Subdiv. (5) cited. Id. Subdiv. (2) cited. 45 CA 83.

      Subsec. (g):

      Cited. 217 C. 130.

      Cited. 45 CA 83.

      Subsec. (h):

      Cited. 236 C. 681.

      Secs. 4-176a to 4-176d. Reserved for future use.

      Sec. 4-176e. Agency hearings. Except as otherwise required by the general statutes, a hearing in an agency proceeding may be held before (1) one or more hearing officers, provided no individual who has personally carried out the function of an investigator in a contested case may serve as a hearing officer in that case, or (2) one or more of the members of the agency.

      (P.A. 88-317, S. 11, 107.)

      History: P.A. 88-317 effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to all agency proceedings commencing on or after that date.

      Cited. 217 C. 130. Cited. 226 C. 105. Cited. 239 C. 32.

      Sec. 4-177. Contested cases. Notice. Record. (a) In a contested case, all parties shall be afforded an opportunity for hearing after reasonable notice.

      (b) The notice shall be in writing and shall include: (1) A statement of the time, place, and nature of the hearing; (2) a statement of the legal authority and jurisdiction under which the hearing is to be held; (3) a reference to the particular sections of the statutes and regulations involved; and (4) a short and plain statement of the matters asserted. If the agency or party is unable to state the matters in detail at the time the notice is served, the initial notice may be limited to a statement of the issues involved. Thereafter, upon application, a more definite and detailed statement shall be furnished.

      (c) Unless precluded by law, a contested case may be resolved by stipulation, agreed settlement, or consent order or by the default of a party.

      (d) The record in a contested case shall include: (1) Written notices related to the case; (2) all petitions, pleadings, motions and intermediate rulings; (3) evidence received or considered; (4) questions and offers of proof, objections and rulings thereon; (5) the official transcript, if any, of proceedings relating to the case, or, if not transcribed, any recording or stenographic record of the proceedings; (6) proposed final decisions and exceptions thereto; and (7) the final decision.

      (e) Any recording or stenographic record of the proceedings shall be transcribed on request of any party. The requesting party shall pay the cost of such transcript. Nothing in this section shall relieve an agency of its responsibility under section 4-183 to transcribe the record for an appeal.

      (1971, P.A. 854, S. 12; P.A. 73-620, S. 9, 10, 19; P.A. 88-317, S. 12, 107.)

      History: P.A. 73-620 amended Subsec. (e) omitting statement of matters officially noticed, proposed findings and exceptions and staff memoranda or data submitted to hearing officer or agency members from record of contested case and amended Subsec. (f) to require party requesting transcript to pay its cost; P.A. 88-317 amended Subsec. (b) to require notice to be in writing, transferred provisions of former Subsec. (c) re opportunity to parties to respond and present evidence and argument to Sec. 4-177c, relettered former Subsec. (d) to Subsec. (c) and rephrased provisions of the subsection, relettered former Subsec. (e) to Subsec. (d) and amended Subsec. (e) to require notices, petitions, official transcript and proposed final decisions and exceptions and final decisions to be included in contested case record, relettered former Subsec. (f) to Subsec. (e) and amended Subsec. (e) by substituting "Any recording or stenographic record of the proceedings" for "Oral proceedings or any part thereof" and adding provision re agency responsibility to transcribe the record for an appeal, and transferred provisions of former Subsec. (g), which required findings of fact to be based exclusively on the evidence and on matters officially noticed, to Sec. 4-180, effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to all agency proceedings commencing on or after that date.

      Cited. 171 C. 691. Cited. 172 C. 263. Cited. 173 C. 462. Cited. 176 C. 82. Cited. 177 C. 78. Cited. 186 C. 153. Cited. 188 C. 90. Cited. 191 C. 173. Cited. 207 C. 296. Cited. 208 C. 442. Cited. 210 C. 531. Cited. 211 C. 508. Cited. 214 C. 726. Cited. 215 C. 474; Id., 616. Cited. 223 C. 618. Cited. 239 C. 32.

      Cited. 1 CA 1. Cited. 9 CA 622. Cited. 33 CA 727. Cited. 34 CA 123. Cited. 37 CA 653; judgment reversed, see 238 C. 361.

      Administrative adjudication of no refund, not contested case. 30 CS 118. Cited. Id., 120. Cited. 34 CS 225. Cited. 39 CS 99; Id., 462. Cited. 41 CS 211.

      Subsec. (a):

      Notice of hearing under section 10-151(b) which did not include two of the charges against the teacher held insufficient. 167 C. 368. Cited. 207 C. 77. Cited. 213 C. 184.

      Subsec. (b):

      Notice of hearing under section 10-151(b) which did not include two of the charges against the teacher held insufficient. 167 C. 368. Subdiv. (4): Notice which failed to include several charges in "matters asserted" was prejudicial violation of this subsection. Id., 368. Cited. 174 C. 366. Subdiv. (2): Notice of hearing deemed legally sufficient where it cited statutory authorities of jurisdiction and under which violations claimed. 177 C. 515. Subdiv. (4) cited. 200 C. 489. Subdiv. (1) cited. 207 C. 77. Subdiv. (3) cited. Id. Subdiv. (4) cited. Id. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id. Cited. 220 C. 86. Cited. 232 C. 57.

      Cited. 22 CA 181. Cited. 41 CA 866.

      Cited. 40 CS 226. Cited. 43 CS 340.

      Subsec. (c):

      Cited. 176 C. 191. Cited. 183 C. 128.

      Cited. 42 CS 1; Id., 599.

      Subsec. (d):

      Cited. 4 CA 117, 121.

      Subsec. (e):

      Cited. 228 C. 651.

      Subsec. (f):

      Cited. 228 C. 651.

      Subsec. (g):

      Findings of fact must be based on matters "officially noticed" as well as on the evidence. 167 C. 368. Cited. 183 C. 128.

      Sec. 4-177a. Contested cases. Party, intervenor status. (a) The presiding officer shall grant a person status as a party in a contested case if that officer finds that: (1) Such person has submitted a written petition to the agency and mailed copies to all parties, at least five days before the date of hearing; and (2) the petition states facts that demonstrate that the petitioner's legal rights, duties or privileges shall be specifically affected by the agency's decision in the contested case.

      (b) The presiding officer may grant any person status as an intervenor in a contested case if that officer finds that: (1) Such person has submitted a written petition to the agency and mailed copies to all parties, at least five days before the date of hearing; and (2) the petition states facts that demonstrate that the petitioner's participation is in the interests of justice and will not impair the orderly conduct of the proceedings.

      (c) The five-day requirement in subsections (a) and (b) of this section may be waived at any time before or after commencement of the hearing by the presiding officer on a showing of good cause.

      (d) If a petition is granted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the presiding officer may limit the intervenor's participation to designated issues in which the intervenor has a particular interest as demonstrated by the petition and shall define the intervenor's rights to inspect and copy records, physical evidence, papers and documents, to introduce evidence, and to argue and cross-examine on those issues. The presiding officer may further restrict the participation of an intervenor in the proceedings, including the rights to inspect and copy records, to introduce evidence and to cross-examine, so as to promote the orderly conduct of the proceedings.

      (P.A. 88-317, S. 20, 107.)

      History: P.A. 88-317 effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to all agency proceedings commencing on or after that date.

      Cited. 233 C. 486. Cited. 239 C. 32.

      Cited. 30 CA 85. Cited. 35 CA 455.

      Subsec. (a):

      Cited. 234 C. 624.

      Cited. 37 CA 653; judgment reversed, see 238 C. 361.

      Sec. 4-177b. Contested cases. Presiding officer. Subpoenas and production of documents. In a contested case, the presiding officer may administer oaths, take testimony under oath relative to the case, subpoena witnesses and require the production of records, physical evidence, papers and documents to any hearing held in the case. If any person disobeys the subpoena or, having appeared, refuses to answer any question put to him or to produce any records, physical evidence, papers and documents requested by the presiding officer, the agency may apply to the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford or for the judicial district in which the person resides, or to any judge of that court if it is not in session, setting forth the disobedience to the subpoena or refusal to answer or produce, and the court or judge shall cite the person to appear before the court or judge to show cause why the records, physical evidence, papers and documents should not be produced or why a question put to him should not be answered. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the agency or any party as otherwise allowed by law.

      (P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; 88-317, S. 15, 107; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; P.A. 95-220, S. 4-6.)

      History: P.A. 88-230 required substitution of "judicial district of Hartford" for "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain", effective September 1, 1991; P.A. 88-317 effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to all agency proceedings commencing on or after that date; P.A. 90-98 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995.

      Cited. 239 C. 32.

      Cited. 37 CA 653; judgment reversed, see 238 C. 361.

      Sec. 4-177c. Contested cases. Documents. Evidence. Arguments. Statements. (a) In a contested case, each party and the agency conducting the proceeding shall be afforded the opportunity (1) to inspect and copy relevant and material records, papers and documents not in the possession of the party or such agency, except as otherwise provided by federal law or any other provision of the general statutes, and (2) at a hearing, to respond, to cross-examine other parties, intervenors, and witnesses, and to present evidence and argument on all issues involved.

      (b) Persons not named as parties or intervenors may, in the discretion of the presiding officer, be given an opportunity to present oral or written statements. The presiding officer may require any such statement to be given under oath or affirmation.

      (P.A. 88-317, S. 13, 107; P.A. 89-174, S. 1, 7.)

      History: P.A. 88-317 effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to all agency proceedings commencing on or after that date; P.A. 89-174 divided Subsec. (a) into Subdivs. and, in Subdiv. (1), added "except as otherwise provided by federal law or any other provision of the general statutes" and amended Subsec. (b) to allow, instead of require, presiding officer to require statements under Subsec. (b) to be given under oath or affirmation and to delete sentence re procedure for presiding officer to follow if he proposes to consider such statements as evidence.

      Cited. 223 C. 618. Cited. 226 C. 105. Cited. 239 C. 32.

      Cited. 37 CA 653; judgment reversed, see 238 C. 361.

      Cited. 44 CS 21.

      Sec. 4-178. Contested cases. Evidence. In contested cases: (1) Any oral or documentary evidence may be received, but the agency shall, as a matter of policy, provide for the exclusion of irrelevant, immaterial or unduly repetitious evidence; (2) agencies shall give effect to the rules of privilege recognized by law; (3) when a hearing will be expedited and the interests of the parties will not be prejudiced substantially, any part of the evidence may be received in written form; (4) documentary evidence may be received in the form of copies or excerpts, if the original is not readily available, and upon request, parties and the agency conducting the proceeding shall be given an opportunity to compare the copy with the original; (5) a party and such agency may conduct cross-examinations required for a full and true disclosure of the facts; (6) notice may be taken of judicially cognizable facts and of generally recognized technical or scientific facts within the agency's specialized knowledge; (7) parties shall be notified in a timely manner of any material noticed, including any agency memoranda or data, and they shall be afforded an opportunity to contest the material so noticed; and (8) the agency's experience, technical competence, and specialized knowledge may be used in the evaluation of the evidence.

      (1971, P.A. 854, S. 13; P.A. 73-620, S. 11, 19; P.A. 88-317, S. 14, 107.)

      History: P.A. 73-620 deleted former provisions regarding rules of evidence and objections to evidentiary offers, replacing them with allowance for any oral or documentary evidence; P.A. 88-317 made minor and technical changes and renumbered the subdiv