Patrick Administration Orders Up Clear Regulations

Beveridge & Diamond, P.C., July 2007

The Patrick Administration has issued Executive Order 485, requiring all Massachusetts agencies to propose clear, concise, plain and understandable regulations, and establishing a fiscal review process prior to the publication of regulatory proposals. All state agencies are now required to submit proposed regulations in advance to the Secretary of Administration and Finance, who has ten days to raise objections. Under the executive order, the Secretary may seek revisions if the proposed rules are unclear, conflict with existing regulations, are inconsistent with Patrick Administration policies, or are inconsistent with the fiscal needs or administrative abilities of the Commonwealth.