Relating to the adoption by executive branch agencies of standards by reference to certain publications and including effective date provisions

This bill relates to the adoption by executive branch agencies of standards by reference to other publications. The bill prohibits an agency, on and after the effective date of the bill, from adopting, by rule, a standard by reference to another publication, or a new edition, amendment, or other update to such a standard previously adopted by reference, unless adoption of the specific standard, edition, amendment, or other update is explicitly authorized by a bill enacted by the general assembly. The bill defines “publication” to include a successor publication to a publication previously adopted by reference, but not a publication by the executive, legislative, or judicial branches, or any component thereof, or a federal publication. The bill does not apply to adoption of a standard by reference to another publication if such adoption is explicitly required by federal law. The bill shall not be construed to affect the validity of the adoption of a standard adopted by an agency prior to the effective date of the bill. The bill shall not be construed to authorize an agency to adopt, by means other than rulemaking, a standard by reference to another publication if such adoption is not otherwise authorized by state or federal law. The bill makes corresponding amendments to statutory language regarding adoption of standards by reference to various publications. The bill strikes language requiring the electrical examining board to adopt rules based on minimum standards set forth in the most current publication of the national electrical code issued and adopted by the national fire protection association and amendments to the code and instead provides that such rules shall be based on the 2020 publication of the code without amendments. The bill takes effect upon enactment.