2009 Robert J. Colborn, Jr. Innovation Award

Recipient: Virginia Division of Legislative Services/Virginia Code Commission
Presentation: Saturday, July 18, 2009

Jon Davidson (right) 2009 Colborn Committee Chair presents the Robert J. Colborn, Jr. Innovation Award to Jane Chaffin, Registrar of Regulations, Virginia Division of Legislative Services for the creation of a current online Administrative Code. Photo: S. Cancelosi, ACR Secretary/Treasurer

Executive Summary (provided online per ACR Bylaws)
Launched in July 2007, the Regulation Information System (RIS) is a web-based application that allows agencies to create regulatory text, submit the text to the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall for executive branch review, and submit regulations electronically to the Registrar of Regulations for publication. In addition, the Registrar's office uses the system to prepare and publish the biweekly Virginia Register of Regulations and to maintain the Virginia Administrative Code database online with daily updates. Almost 300 state agency personnel are trained, registered RIS users. RIS was developed in house with information technology professionals from the Division of Legislative Automated Systems with almost no hard costs. Implementation of the system resulted in significant time savings and vast improvements in usability, accuracy, and transparency for citizens.

View the nomination package in pdf.
View the press release in pdf.

Background: 
The Virginia Division of Legislative Services/Virginia Code Commission was recognized for the creation of the Regulation Information System, a web-based application for filing regulations for publication in the Virginia Register of Regulations, providing daily updates to the online Virginia Administrative Code, and providing bi-weekly updates to the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall.
View a pdf of the PowerPoint presentation here.
View a pdf of the Press Release here.

Committee Statement:

Members of the Colborn Innovation Committee recognized the Virginia Division of Legislative Services as the recipient for a number of factors including implementation of the Virginia Regulation Information System.

2009 ACR Robert J. Colborn Jr. Committee:

Chair: Jon Davidson, Administrative Rules Coordinator, Arkansas Secretary of State, Little Rock, Arkansas
Member: Linda Emry, Administrative Rules Coordinator, Idaho Transportation Department, Boise, Idaho
Member: Emily Caudill, Administrative Regulations Compiler, Kentucky Legislative Research Commission, Frankfort, Kentucky

Other Award Recipients:
2008 -- Arkansas Secretary of State
2007 -- Colorado Secretary of State 
2006 -- Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
2004 -- Office of the Federal Register
2003 -- Missouri Secretary of State, Administrative Rules Division
2002 -- Virginia Department of Planning and Budget, Virginia Regulatory Townhall