The legislature finds that a need exists to adequately inform the public on the conduct of the people's business by state government, and that providing adequate notice of the affairs of government enables the public to actively participate in the conduct of state government. The legislature further finds that the promulgation of rules by state agencies has a direct effect on the ability of the people to conduct their personal affairs and knowledgeably deal with state government. It is therefore the intent and purpose of RCW 1.08.110 and 42.30.075 and of this chapter to require the publication of a state register by which the public will be adequately informed of the activities of government and where they may actively participate in the conduct of state government and influence the decision making process of the people's business.

There is hereby created a state publication to be called the Washington State Register, which shall be published on no less than a monthly basis. The register shall contain, but is not limited to, the following materials received by the code reviser's office during the pertinent publication period:

(1)(a) The full text of any proposed new or amendatory rule, as defined in RCW 34.05.010, and the citation of any existing rules the repeal of which is proposed, prior to the public hearing on such proposal. Such material shall be considered, when published, to be the official notification of the intended action, and no state agency or official thereof may take action on any such rule except on emergency rules adopted in accordance with RCW 34.05.350, until twenty days have passed since the distribution date of the register in which the rule and hearing notice have been published or a notice regarding the omission of the rule has been published pursuant to RCW 34.05.210(4) as now or hereafter amended;

(b) The small business economic impact statement, if required by RCW 19.85.030, preceding the full text of the proposed new or amendatory rule;

(2) The full text of any new or amendatory rule adopted, and the citation of any existing rule repealed, on a permanent or emergency basis;

(3) Executive orders and emergency declarations of the governor;

(4) Public meeting notices of any and all agencies of state government, including state elected officials whose offices are created by Article III of the state Constitution or RCW 48.02.010;

(5) Rules of the state supreme court which have been adopted but not yet published in an official permanent codification;

(6) Summaries of attorney general opinions and letter opinions, noting the number, date, subject, and other information, and prepared by the attorney general for inclusion in the register;

(7) Juvenile disposition standards and security guidelines proposed and adopted under RCW 13.40.030;

(8) Proposed and adopted rules of the commission on judicial conduct;

(9) The maximum allowable rates of interest and retail installment contract service charges filed by the state treasurer under RCW 19.52.025 and * 63.14.135. In addition, the highest rate of interest permissible for the current month and the maximum retail installment contract service charge for the current year shall be published in each issue of the register. The publication of the maximum allowable interest rate established pursuant to RCW 19.52.025 shall be accompanied by the following advisement: NOTICE: FEDERAL LAW PERMITS FEDERALLY INSURED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE STATE TO CHARGE THE HIGHEST RATE OF INTEREST THAT MAY BE CHARGED BY ANY FINANCIAL INSTITUTION IN THE STATE. THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE RATE OF INTEREST SET FORTH ABOVE MAY NOT APPLY TO A PARTICULAR TRANSACTION; and

(10) A list of corporations dissolved during the preceding month filed by the secretary of state under chapter 23B.14 RCW.

*Reviser's note: RCW 63.14.135 was repealed by 1995 c 249 s 1.

Severability—1983 c 2: See note following RCW 18.71.030.

Severability—1980 c 186: See note following RCW 34.05.320.

Schedule of regular meetings of state agencies: RCW 42.30.075.

All material included in the register pursuant to RCW 34.08.020 shall be prepared by the appropriate agency or official and transmitted to the code reviser in accordance with rules adopted by the code reviser prescribing the style, format, and numbering system therefor, the date of receipt for inclusion within a particular register, and such other requirements as may be necessary for the orderly and efficient publication of the register and the Washington Administrative Code.

The publication of any information in the Washington State Register shall be deemed to be official notice of such information, and publication in the register of such information and materials shall be certified to be the true and correct copy of such rules or other information as filed in the code reviser's office. The code reviser shall certify, to any court of record, the publication of any notice or information, and attached to such certification shall be the agency's declaration of compliance with the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act (chapter 42.30 RCW), the Administrative Procedure Act (chapter 34.05 RCW), and this chapter.

Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.

For the purposes of the state register and this chapter, an institution of higher education, as defined in RCW 34.05.010, shall be considered to be a state agency.

Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.

This 1977 amendatory act may be known as the Washington State Register Act of 1977.

This 1977 amendatory act shall take effect January 1, 1978.