How to Read a Rule


A rule proposed or adopted by a state agency might be (1) an amendment of an existing rule, (2) an entirely new rule, or (3) a rescission of an existing rule.

Amendment of an existing rule.
When a state agency amends one of its existing rules, it must file the entire text of the existing rule, notating what it wishes to delete from the existing text and what new matter it proposes to add. Text that is part of the current version of the rule and is to remain unchanged appears in normal, lowercase letters. Text that an agency proposes to delete from the existing rule also appears in lowercase, but is stricken through with a solid horizontal line: Existing text to be deleted. New text that an agency proposes to add to an existing rule appears in underlined, lowercase letters: New text to be added to a rule



New rule
The entire text of a new rule proposed by a state agency appears in underlined, lowercase letters. 



Rescission of an existing rule.
Rescinding a rule means to remove the rule from the law. When an agency proposes to rescind a rule, it must file the entire text of the existing rule. The words "TO BE RESCINDED" will appear at the top of the rule.



Rescind and new.
Sometimes an agency will rescind an existing rule and simultaneously propose a new rule bearing the same rule number. This often happens when an agency proposes to amend more than fifty per cent of a rule. In that case, the new rule addresses much the same subject matter as the rescinded rule. But with some "rescind and new" filings, the new rule is not related to the rescinded rule.

 

The Register displays all "rescind and new" filings in two categories, showing the rescinded rule and its Rule Summary and Fiscal Analysis (RSFA) separately from the new rule and its RSFA.