§561. Purpose

The purpose of this subchapter is to establish a framework for the conduct of negotiated rulemaking, consistent with section 553 of this title, to encourage agencies to use the process when it enhances the informal rulemaking process. Nothing in this subchapter should be construed as an attempt to limit innovation and experimentation with the negotiated rulemaking process or with other innovative rulemaking procedures otherwise authorized by law.

(Added Pub. L. 101–648, §3(a), Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4970 , §581; renumbered §561, Pub. L. 102–354, §3(a)(2), Aug. 26, 1992, 106 Stat. 944 .)

Repeal of Section

Section repealed effective six years after Nov. 29, 1990, see section 5 of Pub. L. 101–648, as amended, set out as an Effective Date of Repeal; Savings Provision note below.

Amendments

1992-Pub. L. 102–354 renumbered section 581 of this title as this section.

Effective Date of Repeal; Savings Provision

Section 5 of Pub. L. 101–648, as amended by Pub. L. 102–354, §5(a)(2), Aug. 26, 1992, 106 Stat. 945 , provided that: "Subchapter III of chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code (enacted as subchapter IV of chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code, by section 3 of this Act and redesignated as subchapter III of such chapter 5 by section (3)(a) of the Administrative Procedure Technical Amendments Act of 1991 [Pub. L. 102–354]) and that portion of the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code, relating to subchapter III, are repealed, effective 6 years after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 29, 1990], except that the provisions of such subchapter shall continue to apply after the date of the repeal with respect to then pending negotiated rulemaking proceedings initiated before the date of repeal which, in the judgment of the agencies which are convening or have convened such proceedings, require such continuation, until such negotiated rulemaking proceedings terminate pursuant to such subchapter."

Short Title of 1992 Amendment

Section 1 of Pub. L. 102–354 provided that: "This Act [amending sections 565, 568, 569, 571, 577, 580, 581, and 593 of this title, section 10 of Title 9, Arbitration, and section 173 of Title 29, Labor, renumbering sections 571 to 576, 581 to 590, and 581 to 593 as 591 to 596, 561 to 570, and 571 to 583, respectively, of this title, and amending provisions set out as notes under this section and section 571 of this title] may be cited as the 'Administrative Procedure Technical Amendments Act of 1991'."

Short Title

Section 1 of Pub. L. 101–648 provided that: "This Act [enacting this subchapter] may be cited as the 'Negotiated Rulemaking Act of 1990'."

Congressional Findings

Section 2 of Pub. L. 101–648 provided that: "The Congress makes the following findings:

"(1) Government regulation has increased substantially since the enactment of the Administrative Procedure Act [see Short Title note set out preceding section 551 of this title].

"(2) Agencies currently use rulemaking procedures that may discourage the affected parties from meeting and communicating with each other, and may cause parties with different interests to assume conflicting and antagonistic positions and to engage in expensive and time-consuming litigation over agency rules.

"(3) Adversarial rulemaking deprives the affected parties and the public of the benefits of face-to-face negotiations and cooperation in developing and reaching agreement on a rule. It also deprives them of the benefits of shared information, knowledge, expertise, and technical abilities possessed by the affected parties.

"(4) Negotiated rulemaking, in which the parties who will be significantly affected by a rule participate in the development of the rule, can provide significant advantages over adversarial rulemaking.

"(5) Negotiated rulemaking can increase the acceptability and improve the substance of rules, making it less likely that the affected parties will resist enforcement or challenge such rules in court. It may also shorten the amount of time needed to issue final rules.

"(6) Agencies have the authority to establish negotiated rulemaking committees under the laws establishing such agencies and their activities and under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). Several agencies have successfully used negotiated rulemaking. The process has not been widely used by other agencies, however, in part because such agencies are unfamiliar with the process or uncertain as to the authority for such rulemaking."

Authorization of Appropriations

Section 4 of Pub. L. 101–648, as amended by Pub. L. 102–354, §5(a)(1), Aug. 26, 1992, 106 Stat. 945 , provided that: "In order to carry out this Act [see Short Title note above] and the amendments made by this Act, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrative Conference of the United States, in addition to amounts authorized by section 596 [formerly 576] of title 5, United States Code, not in excess of $500,000 for each of the fiscal years 1991, 1992, and 1993."