Contact OAL:

Office of Administrative Law
300 Capitol Mall, Suite 1250
Sacramento, CA 95814-4339

Phone (916) 323-6225
CALNET 473-6225
Fax: (916) 323-6826
e-mail: staff@oal.ca.gov

Reference Attorney phone message line: (916) 323-6815

Reference Attorney e-mail: staff@oal.ca.gov

Welcome to the Office of Administrative Law Website

The Office of Administrative Law (OAL) ensures that agency regulations are clear, necessary, legally valid, and available to the public. OAL is responsible for reviewing administrative regulations proposed by over 200 state agencies for compliance with the standards set forth in California's Administrative Procedure Act (APA), for transmitting these regulations to the Secretary of State and for publishing regulations in the California Code of Regulations.

OAL assists state regulatory agencies through a formal training program, as well as through other less formal methods, to understand and comply with the Administrative Procedure Act.

OAL also accepts petitions challenging alleged underground regulations--those rules issued by state agencies which meet the Administrative Procedure Act's definition of a "regulation" but were not adopted pursuant to the APA process.

OAL oversees the publication and distribution, in print and on the Internet, of the California Code of Regulations and the California Regulatory Notice Register.

News/Information

The 2008 Rulemaking Law Book Is Now Available
The California Rulemaking Law book is a convenient resource for the government and private sectors, attorneys, clients, advocates, and the general public to find the primary statutes and regulations governing rulemaking under the California Administrative Procedure Act (APA). The publication contains excerpts from the statutes and regulations and is an informational tool only. Please refer to the publications of the official statutes and regulations for the complete text. The cost is $8.00 per book plus shipping.

OAL Issues Revised STD. 400 Form
OAL has revised the form for Notice Publication/Regulations Submission, known as the STD. 400 (REV. 01-08). The new STD. 400 form is available online or by contacting OAL directly. The changes made to the Form 400 are editorial and nonsubstantive in nature and include updating some of the categories of filings and deleting obsolete references.

OAL's Regulations on the Emergency Rulemaking Process are Approved
On January 30, 2008, OAL submitted proposed regulations concerning amendments to the Emergency Rulemaking Process. The regulations have been approved and become effective March 26, 2008. The entire rulemaking file and the final text filed with the Secretary of State is available for viewing.

The 2008 Rulemaking Calendar Is Now Available
The 2008 Rulemaking Calendar, which is a proposed schedule of state agencies' rulemaking activity for the year, is now available.

Governor's Office Affirms OAL's Disapproval Decision
On June 18, 2007 the Board of Equalization submitted a Request for Review pursuant to Government Code section 11349.5 seeking review of OAL's June 8, 2007 Disapproval Decision. In accordance with 11349.5, OAL filed a Response on June 25, 2007. On July 11, OAL's Disapproval Decision was affirmed by the Governor's Office.