4-5-221 - Powers of secretary of state regarding publication Certification of rules Web site and its contents prima facie evidence of regulatory law Delegation of duties and powers. - Tennessee Statutes

4-5-221. Powers of secretary of state regarding publication Certification of rules Web site and its contents prima facie evidence of regulatory law Delegation of duties and powers.

(a)  With respect to the publication of the administrative code to be cited as the rules and regulations of the state of Tennessee, and with regard to the publication of the monthly administrative register to be cited as the Tennessee administrative register, the secretary of state shall have the powers set out in subdivision (a)(1); provided, that the requirements of subdivision (a)(2) are met:

     (1)  In preparing the administrative code and administrative register the secretary of state shall not alter the sense, meaning or effect of any rule promulgated by an agency, but shall copy the exact language of the text of a rule filed with the secretary of state's office, except that the secretary of state is authorized to rearrange, regroup, and renumber the divisions, chapters, rules, and parts of rules for publication in the administrative code and monthly register and to change reference numbers to agree with any renumbered chapter or rule, to change the wording of and prepare new rule headings and symbols; to substitute the proper rule or chapter reference where the terms “these rules” or “this regulation” or similar expressions are used in the rules; to correct manifest misspelling and typographical errors and to change capitalization and spelling for the purpose of uniformity; to change references to governmental agencies, when part or all of the powers, rights or duties of such agencies have, by act of the general assembly or of the governor, been transferred to other agencies; and to omit preambles, captions and statements declaring authority and rulemaking intent. Where the application or effect of a rule, by its terms, depends on the time when the rule took effect, the secretary of state may substitute the actual effective date for the various forms of expression that mean that date, such as “when this rule (or chapter) takes effect” or “after (or before) the effective date of this rule (or chapter).” No such change shall be deemed an alteration or departure from the rule as filed.

     (2)  Every agency filing rules for publication in the administrative code and administrative register shall assure the accuracy of its submission and that the submission meets the requirements of the rules and regulations promulgated by the secretary of state pursuant to this chapter, when they are filed with the secretary of state.

(b)  The secretary of state shall prepare a written certificate of approval for each web site that certifies approval of the web site and its contents and that the text of each rule was compared with the original filing with the secretary of state, and that, with the exception of changes in form permitted by subsection (a), the rules are accurately and correctly copied.

(c)  The web site of the administrative register and administrative code and its contents that contain the secretary of state's certificate of approval shall constitute prima facie evidence of the regulatory law of the state of Tennessee and be received, recognized, referred to and used in all courts, agencies, departments, offices of and proceedings in Tennessee and the official compilation of rules and regulations of Tennessee.

(d)  The secretary of state is authorized to delegate any or all duties and powers set out in this section and chapter to the director of the publications division or any other members of the secretary of state's staff.

[Acts 1975, ch. 370, § 11; T.C.A., §§ 4-533, 4-5-127; Acts 1982, ch. 874, § 31; 1996, ch. 779, § 3; 2009, ch. 566, § 16.]