Administrative Law Research (Federal and Washington State) Bridge the Legal Research Gap May 20, 2009 Ann Hemmens University of Washington Gallagher Law Library

Outline What is Administrative Law? Federal Agency Rules & Decisions Washington State Agency Rules & Decisions Starting Points for Your Research

Which Branch of Government? Constitution Legislative Statutes Stat. & USC RCW Judicial Cases US & Fed 3d P3d & Wash. Executive Regulations Administrative Decisions CFR & FR WAC & WSR

Agencies Types: – Executive Dept. of Agriculture Dept. of Commerce –-- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) Dept. of Health & Human Services –-- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Food and Drug Administration – Independent Environmental Protection Agency Federal Communications Commission National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorized to carry out specific duties: – Issue rules and regulations in specific subject area – Enforce those rules – Adjudicate claims and disputes under those rules

Agency Authorized by Statute to Issue Regulations Congress writes a statute [published in U.S. Code], which may include a Congressional Findings section explaining why they created new law, and delegates to an agency the responsibility for writing the regulations [published in the Code of Federal Regulations] implementing the law.

EXAMPLE: Organic Foods Production Act Not later than 540 days after November 28, 1990, the Secretary shall issue proposed regulations to carry out this chapter. 7 U.S. Code §6521(a)

Organic Production and Handling System Plan, 7 C.F.R. § (2009)

Administrative Appeals Process The agency must create a process for citizens to appeal decisions.. The Secretary shall establish an expedited administrative appeals procedure under which persons may appeal an action of the Secretary... that— (1) adversely affects such person; or (2) is inconsistent with the organic certification program.... A final decision of the Secretary... may be appealed to the United States district court... in which such person is located. 7 U.S. Code § 6520 Decisions of the Secretary of Agriculture are published in Agriculture Decisions – Arthur Harvey, 62 Agric. Dec. 621 (2003)

Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) Current regulations and Presidential documents (in Title 3) 50 titles (200+ volumes) Published annually Index & finding tables Available on Westlaw, Lexis, GPO Access website FTC Credit Practices Rule, 16 C.F.R. § (2008).

Update the C.F.R. with... the Federal Register (F.R.) Published daily Includes: – proposed and new regs – Presidential documents Executive orders Proclamations Available on Westlaw, Lexis, GPO Access website Asylum and Withholding Definitions, 65 Fed. Reg. 76, (proposed Dec. 7, 2000) (to be codified at 8 C.F.R. pt. 208)

Finding Federal Regulations (1)Annotated U.S. Code (U.S.C.A. or U.S.C.S.)

Finding Federal Regulations (1)Annotated U.S. Code (U.S.C.A. or U.S.C.S.) (2)Topical/Practice Area databases on Lexis and Westlaw

Finding Federal Regulations (1)Annotated U.S. Code (U.S.C.A. or U.S.C.S.) (2)Topical/Practice Area databases on Lexis and Westlaw (3)Looseleaf publications in print/online (e.g., BNA publications & RIA Checkpoint)

BNA Environment & Safety Database

Finding Federal Regulations (1)Annotated U.S. Code (U.S.C.A. or U.S.C.S.) (2)Topical/Practice Area databases on Lexis and Westlaw (3)Looseleaf publications in print/online (e.g., BNA publications and RIA Checkpoint) (4)Agency websites

Immigration Regs on Agency Website

Finding Federal Regulations (1)Annotated U.S. Code (U.S.C.A. or U.S.C.S.) (2)Topical/Practice Area databases on Lexis and Westlaw (3)Looseleaf publications in print/online (e.g., BNA publications and RIA Checkpoint) (4)Agency websites (5)C.F.R. Index (1)At end of set of C.F.R. volumes (2)“CFR Index” volume of the U.S.C.S. (3)West's CFR: General Index (KF70 A34). On Westlaw as “RegulationsPlus: Index” within CFR database.

Washington State Administrative Law WA State agencies, departments, commissions and boards. Responsibilities can include : issue regulations in specific subject area, enforce rules, adjudicate disputes. Office of Administrative Hearings Growth Management Hearings Board Department of Agriculture Department of Ecology Liquor Control Board Board of Pharmacy Gambling Commission Transportation Commission

Example: Organic Food Grower in WA The WA statute: Organic Food Products Act RCW RCW State organic program — Authority of department — Rules. The department is authorized to take such actions, conduct proceedings, and enter orders as permitted or contemplated for a state organic program under the federal organic food production act of 1990, 7 U.S.C. Sec et seq., and the rules adopted thereunder. The state organic program shall not be inconsistent with the requirements of 7 U.S.C. Sec et seq. and the rules adopted thereunder, including 7 C.F.R. Sec The department shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section. [2002 c 220 § 7.]

Example: Organic Food Grower in WA The WA regulations: Organic Food Standards and Certification, WAC (2009). WAC = Washington Administrative Code Contains current state regulations

Washington Administrative Code Chapter

EXAMPLE: New Rule in Washington State Register WSR PERMANENT RULES DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY [ Order Filed April 22, 2009, 11:22 a.m., effective May 23, 2009 ] Purpose: The purpose of chapter WAC, Recyclable materials -- Transporter and facility requirements, is to require transporters of recyclable material to register with ecology, transport recyclable materials only to locations where recycling occurs, and keep records of all activities for two years. In addition, these new rules require recycling facilities to notify ecology of their existence thirty days before operation commences (ninety days for existing facilities). The adopted rule will incorporate language that prescribes penalties for noncompliance of up to $1,000 per violation.chapter WAC Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter RCW and RCW [70.95.]430.Chapter RCWRCW Adopted under notice filed as WSR on November 5, NEW SECTION WAC Authority and purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to establish minimum standards for the transportation of recyclable materials; establish notice and reporting standards for recycling facilities and material recovery facilities (MRFs); ensure that recyclable materials are not delivered for disposal; establish penalties for transporters of recyclable materials, recycling facilities, and material recovery facilities (MRFs) that do not meet the standards of this chapter.

WA compared to US Enabling Statute found in Revised Code of Washington (RCW) Implementing Rules/Regulations found in Washington Administrative Code (WAC) Proposed and new regulations found in Washington State Register (WSR) Enabling Statute found in United States Code (USC) Implementing Rules/Regulations found in Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Proposed and new regulations found in Federal Register (FR)

Finding Washington Regulations (1)Annotated Statutory Code (RCWA or ARCW) (2)Washington Administrative Code – Index (in last volume of set) – WAC available on Westlaw, Lexis, WA Legislature website

Finding Washington Regulations (3) Practice Materials – Washington Practice; WA Administrative Law Practice Manual – Deskbooks & more: WA Insurance Law; WA State Environmental Policy Act; WA State & Local Tax Deskbook Deskbooks & more – Where? In Library, on Westlaw or Lexis or Loislaw (4) Agency Websites – list of agencies on AccessWA,

ACCESS WA website List of AGENCIES

WA State Employment Security Department Regulations Statutes Decisions

Remember : Your Starting Points for Administrative Research U.S. Administrative Law Research Guide, Washington State Administrative Law Research Guide, University of Washington Gallagher Law Library

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