Emergency regulations: Division of Occupational Safety and Health: State Department of Public Health.
This bill seeks to enhance accountability and transparency in the regulatory process during public health emergencies. By requiring public notice and an opportunity for comment before any amendments are considered, AB 893 aims to engage stakeholders and ensure that adjustments to emergency regulations are made with public input. This provision is particularly relevant in the context of ongoing public health challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, thereby allowing for more timely and informed public health responses.
Assembly Bill 893, introduced by Assembly Member Davies, aims to establish a procedural framework for the review and amendment of emergency regulations adopted by the Division of Occupational Safety and Health and the State Department of Public Health in response to federal recommendations that may conflict with existing state emergency regulations related to COVID-19. Specifically, the bill mandates that within 14 calendar days of the release of such federal recommendations, either the Division or the Department must review the existing emergency regulation and decide to either amend it or submit a report to the Legislature explaining any decision not to amend.
While the bill is positioned as a necessary update to adapt regulations in a rapidly changing public health landscape, there may be points of contention around the urgency clause, which allows the bill to take immediate effect. Critics may argue that rushing to amend regulations without following the full administrative process could lead to oversight and errors that could negatively affect public health outcomes. The bill will remain in effect only until 90 days after the Governor terminates the COVID-19 state of emergency, potentially creating a temporary regulatory environment that some may view as lacking stability.