About the Administrative Codes and Registers (ACR) Section of NASS
Our objectives
- To gather, exchange and disseminate facts, information and ideas that relate to the publication and distribution of administrative codes and registers;
- To enhance the quality of administrative codes and registers through better style, format and design;
- To encourage the development of administrative codes and registers in jurisdictions where none exist;
- To foster the development of better rulewriting skills and rule review techniques, and more effective management of the rule promulgation process; and to
- To increase knowledge of administrative law among ACR Section members and within the general public
In 26 of the states, the rules filing or publication function is located within the Secretary of State’s Office.
In the remaining jurisdictions, the function may be located elsewhere in the executive branch, in the legislative branch, in the judicial branch, or in an independent agency. Government entities represented in ACR include most of the states, territories, protectorates, and the federal government.
ACR holds meetings in conjunction with the NASS conferences, with separate sessions and speakers. Members interact with NASS members at meals and other functions to share ideas between goverment entites. Networking among state rules personnel is an important objective of the conference.
ACR sessions focus on legal issues in rulemaking; printing, marketing, and distribution strategies; rules review; and advances in computer and publication technology.
Sessions include panels, demonstrations, and speakers of national reputation. Typically the summer conference is held in July or August and includes about 24 hours of educational sessions attended by members from as many as 40 jurisdictions.
ACR produces the State and Federal Survey, a survey of codes and registers, comprehensively documenting the operations of the state and federal administrative rules “gatekeepers,” publishers, and reviewers. Sale of the survey is ACR’s primary source of income for administration and extraordinary expenses.