Each government agency may have a different approach to drafting regulations and accepting, responding to, and incorporating comments on the draft. It may be possible to provide comments in writing, online, through public meetings or hearings, or by informal contacts with agency staff. You will need to understand the established regulation procedures and format, the mechanisms for providing input, and the timelines, and then align your strategies accordingly. It also is important to look broadly at the context within which the legislation has been enacted (e.g., committee reports) and consider how the proposed regulations may affect and be affected by other existing policies and practices. Remember, the window for submitting input is typically short, so you will need to move quickly. If possible, you may want to contact the agency before the regulations have been drafted and follow-up with them after comments have been submitted.
Important considerations for understanding and planning for the rulemaking process include:
- For what legislation or other policy is there an opportunity to provide comments?
- Is there any documentation of legislative intent or history that needs to be taken into account when commenting on the draft regulation?
- Which government agency has responsibility for developing the regulation? Do you or any of your partners have a good working relationship with that agency?
- Have you familiarized yourself with the established process for submitting comments on proposed regulations? What is the timeframe for doing so?
- Have you had previous contact—formally or informally—with the government agency about this issue (e.g., input on the legislation itself, suggestions for the regulations)? If not, are you able to do so before the draft regulations are released for comment?
Resources
California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare
Congress.gov
Library of Congress
Information about Federal legislation.
Laws and Policies
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Laws and Policies
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau
Laws and Policies That Promote Systems of Care
Child Welfare Information Gateway
National Conference of State Legislatures
Provides information about State and Federal legislation and resources on a variety of issue areas.