Sec. 23. (a) An agency shall provide notice in the Indiana Register of the first public comment period required by this section. To publish notice of the first public comment period in the Indiana Register, the agency must submit the following to the publisher:

(1) A statement of the date, time, and place at which the hearing required by section 26 of this chapter will be convened, including information for how to attend the public hearing remotely.

(2) The full text of the agency’s proposed rule in the form required by section 20 of this chapter and the documents required by section 21 of this chapter.

(3) The latest version of the regulatory analysis submitted to the budget agency and the office of management and budget under section 22.8 of this chapter.

(4) The determination of the budget agency and the office of management and budget authorizing commencement of the public comment periods.

(5) If the proposed rule adds or amends language to increase or expand application of a fee, fine, or civil penalty or a schedule of fees, fines, or civil penalties, the agenda of the budget committee meeting at which the rule was scheduled for review.

(6) The notice required under subsection (b).

     (b) The notice of the first public comment period must include the following:

(1) A general description of the subject matter of the proposed rule.

(2) An overview of the intent and scope of the proposed rule and the statutory authority for the rule.

(3) The latest version of the regulatory analysis submitted to the budget agency and the office of management and budget under section 22.8 of this chapter, excluding any appendices containing any data, studies, or analyses referenced in the regulatory analysis.

(4) Information concerning where, when, and how a person may submit written comments on the proposed rule, including contact information concerning the small business regulatory coordinator required by section 28.1 of this chapter.

(5) Information concerning where, when, and how a person may inspect and copy the regulatory analysis, and any data, studies, or analyses referenced under subdivision (3).

(6) Information concerning where, when, and how a person may inspect any documents incorporated by reference into the proposed rule under section 21 of this chapter.

(7) An indication that, if the agency does not receive any substantive comments during the public comment period or public hearing, the agency may adopt a rule that is the same as or does not substantially differ from the text of the proposed rule published under this section.

Inadequacy or insufficiency of the published description or regulatory analysis in a notice published under this section does not invalidate a rulemaking action.

     (c) Although the agency may comply with the publication requirements of this section on different days, the agency must comply with all of the publication requirements of this section at least thirty (30) days before the public hearing required by section 26 of this chapter is convened.

     (d) The publisher shall review materials submitted under this section and determine the date that the publisher intends to publish the text of the proposed rule and the notice in the Indiana Register. If the submitted material complies with this section, the publisher shall establish the intended publication date, assign a document control number to the proposed rule, and provide a written or an electronic mail authorization to proceed to the agency. The publisher shall publish the following in the Indiana Register on the intended publication date:

(1) The notice of the first public comment period, including any information required under IC 13-14-9-4 (if applicable).

(2) The full text of the agency’s proposed rule (excluding the full text of a matter incorporated by reference under section 21 of this chapter).

As added by P.L.31-1985, SEC.12. Amended by P.L.44-1995, SEC.3; P.L.1-1996, SEC.29; P.L.215-2005, SEC.3; P.L.152-2012, SEC.7; P.L.249-2023, SEC.20.