Public comment forums
About public comment forums
Public comment forums allow users to submit comments, as well as view comments made by
others. Public comment forums open automatically on the register publication date of
any Notice of Periodic Review, Petition for Rulemaking or any stage of a regulatory action
(NOIRA, fast track, proposed or final). In addition, an agency can optionally open a comment forum with the
General Notice feature on the Town hall.
The length of a comment period defaults to the length
that is required by statute or executive order. Agencies can allow more time for public comments
by manually changing the comment end date when submitting any of these packages to the Registrar's office.
Public comment forums are open only during the official comment period for a stage.
After the comment period has closed, it is possible to view all of comments made, but
not to enter new comments.
User comments can be approximately 3,000 words in length. There is an editing toolbar
which allows for simple formatting and the inclusion of links to other websites. Users
can enter comments while logged in as a registered public user or users can enter their comments
anonymously; however, it is strongly recommended that users supply their name and organization.
Once a public comment is submitted to a forum, it becomes part of the official record of
a regulatory action and cannot be changed.
Browsing for a comment forum
On the Town Hall home page their are several shortcuts that highlight currently active
public comment forums and those opened recently. On the blue menu bar you can open
all active comment forums on the Town Hall.
When you click on a link and are on the Comment Forums page, you can use the little graphic
in the upper right to open up an options panel with a variety of options. You can specify
a particular board or agency. You can choose to view forums which have recently closed.
There are also links to the comment forums on the associated stage, periodic review or
petition for rulemaking screen.
How to view, print, and save public comments
Currently active public comment forums can be accessed by clicking on "Comment Forums"
on the left blue menu bar and selecting "View and Enter Comments" beside the desired forum.
By selecting the little graphic on the upper right, you can
select past forums. You have several other selection choices. You can also find links to comment
forums from other pages on the Town Hall such as when viewing the details of a regulatory stage.
Once you enter a forum (past or current) you can see a list of the comments like the example below.
You can click on a comment title to read that particular comment or you can choose the "View all
comments on one page" link to obtain a comprehensive listing of all comments for the forum. You
can then print that list to your printer. You can try to choose "File / Save As" to save this page
on your local computer, but your file format options will depend on your browser and your computer and
some web pages are difficult to save reliably. Check it out after you save it to make sure you are satisfied
with the result. If you have the capability to create a PDF file, you will find those more consistently
reliable.
Printing Tip: There is a "Hide Menu" link on the upper right hand side of the screen which will
temporarily remove the left menu bar which might be desirable for printing.
Violations of Town Hall User policies
Public comments
Pursuant to § 2.2-4007 (A) of the Code of Virginia, the
public has an opportunity to comment on a non-exempt regulatory action after the publication of
each stage in the
Register.
NOIRA stage. Once published in the Register, the agency receives public comment
for at least 30 days.
Proposed stage. Once published in the Register, the agency receives public
comment for at least 60 days.
Fast-track stage. Once published in the Register, the agency receives public
comment for at least 30 days. If an objection to the use of the fast-track process is received within the public
comment period from 10 or more persons, any member of the applicable standing committee of either house of the
General Assembly, or of the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules, the agency shall (i) file notice of the
objection with the Registrar of Regulations for publication in the Register, and (ii) proceed with the normal
promulgation process set out in this article with the initial publication of the fast-track regulation serving
as the Notice of Intended Regulatory Action. Otherwise, the regulation will become effective or shall be repealed as
appropriate, 15 days after the close of the comment period, unless the regulation or repeal is withdrawn or a later
effective date is specified by the agency. If some objections or comments have been received, but are fewer than
necessary to trigger the standard regulatory process, then the agency should fill out
Form TH-12 and upload it to the
Town Hall.
Final stage. Once published in the Register, there is a 30-day adoption
period. Pursuant to
§ 2.2-4007.06 of the
Code of Virginia, if any changes with
substantial impact has been made to the regulation between the proposed and final
stages then, during the 30-day adoption period, any person can request the agency to
receive further comment. If the agency receives requests from the Governor or at least
25 people, then the agency must (1) suspend the regulatory process for 30 days to receive
further public comment, and (2) file notice of the additional 30-day public comment period
with the Registrar, unless the agency determines that the changes made are minor or
inconsequential in their impact. If there is an additional comment period, it is to begin
on the date the notice of public comment appears in the
Register.
Note: If an agency refuses to hold another comment period upon a request to receive
additional comment, its decision is subject to court challenge.