West Virginia Code
Article 3A. Higher Education Rule Making
§29A-3A-12. Submission of Legislative Rules to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability

(a) When the board finally approves a proposed legislative rule for submission to the Legislature, pursuant to the provisions of section ten of this article, the board shall submit to the Legislative Oversight commission on education accountability at its offices or at a regular meeting of such commission fifteen copies of the following:
(1) The full text of the legislative rule as finally approved by the board, with new language underlined and with language to be deleted from any existing rule stricken-through but clearly legible;
(2) A brief summary of the content of the legislative rule and a description and a copy of any existing rule which the agency proposes to amend or repeal;
(3) A statement of the circumstances which require the rule;
(4) A fiscal note containing all information included in a fiscal note for either house of the Legislature and a statement of the economic impact of the rule on the state or its residents; and
(5) Any other information which the commission may request or which may be required by law.
(b) The commission shall review each proposed legislative rule and, in its discretion, may hold public hearings thereon. Such review shall include, but not be limited to, a determination of:
(1) Whether the board has exceeded the scope of its statutory authority in approving the proposed legislative rule;
(2) Whether the proposed legislative rule is in conformity with the legislative intent of the statute which the rule is intended to implement, extend, apply, interpret or make specific;
(3) Whether the proposed legislative rule conflicts with any other provision of this code or with any other rule adopted by the same or a different agency;
(4) Whether the proposed legislative rule is necessary to fully accomplish the objectives of the statute under which the proposed rule was promulgated;
(5) Whether the proposed legislative rule is reasonable, especially as it affects the convenience of the general public or of persons particularly affected by it;
(6) Whether the proposed legislative rule could be made less complex or more readily understandable by the general public; and
(7) Whether the proposed legislative rule was promulgated in compliance with the requirements of this article and with any requirements imposed by any other provision of this code.
(c) After reviewing the legislative rule, the commission shall recommend that the Legislature:
(1) Authorize the board to promulgate the legislative rule; or
(2) Authorize the board to promulgate part of the legislative rule; or
(3) Authorize the board to promulgate the legislative rule with certain amendments; or
(4) Recommend that the rule be withdrawn.
The commission shall file notice of its action in the state register and with the board proposing the rule: Provided, That when the commission makes the recommendations of subdivision (2), (3) or (4) of this subsection, the notice shall contain a statement of the reasons for such recommendation.
(d) When the commission recommends that a rule be authorized, in whole or in part, by the Legislature, the commission shall instruct its staff or the office of Legislative Services to draft a bill authorizing the board to promulgate all or part of the legislative rule. If the commission recommends that the rule not be authorized, it shall include in its report a draft of a bill authorizing promulgation of the rule together with a recommendation. Any draft bill prepared under this section shall contain a legislative finding that the rule is within the legislative intent of the statute which the rule is intended to implement, extend, apply or interpret and shall be available for any member of the Legislature to introduce to the Legislature.