This regulation ("Regulation") is promulgated pursuant to the authority granted in R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 42-16.1-1 et seq., 42-35-6, and 42-35-8.

A. When used in this Regulation, the following words shall have the following meaning:

1. "Department" means the Department of Labor & Training.

2. "Director" means the Director of the Department.

3. "Filer" means the person(s) or entity which files a request for Declaratory Ruling or a Petition for Promulgation, Amendment or Repeal of any rule or regulation with the Department.

A. General. Pursuant to RI. Gen. Laws § 42-35-8, any interested person may petition the Department for a declaratory ruling. The Department shall consider the petition. Within a reasonable time the Department shall, in its sole discretion, take one of the following actions:

1. Issue a declaratory ruling; or

2. Solicit written argument from the filer and any other person(s) that the Department reasonably believes would be interested in the issues; or

3. Set a reasonable time and place for hearing argument upon the matter and give reasonable notification to the filer and any other person(s) that the Department reasonably believes would be interested in the issue(s) of the time and place for such hearing and of the issues involved.

4. If either §§ 4.3(A)(2) or (3) of this Part above is utilized, the Department shall, within a reasonable time after receipt of written submission or after the hearing is held, issue a binding declaratory ruling.

B. Form of Petition. Any interested person petitioning the Department for a declaratory ruling shall generally adhere to the following requirements for such purpose:

1. Petitions may be submitted electronically or in hard copy.

2. At the top of the page shall appear the wording "Before the Department of Labor & Training." On the left side of the page below the foregoing, the following caption shall be set out: "In the Matter of the Petition of (name of the petitioning party) for a Declaratory Ruling." Opposite the foregoing caption shall appear the word "Petition."

3. The body of the petition shall be set out in numbered paragraphs. The first paragraph shall state the name and the address of the petitioning party. The second paragraph shall state all rules or statutes that may be brought into issue by the petition. Succeeding paragraphs shall set out the state of facts relied upon in form similar to complaints in civil actions before the superior courts of this state. The concluding paragraphs shall contain the prayer of the petitioner. The petition shall be subscribed and verified in the manner prescribed for verification of complaints in the superior courts of this state.

4. Petitions shall clearly identify the filer and/or his or her authorized representative and the date of submission of the petition.

5. If submitted in hard copy the original and two (2) copies shall be filed with the Department and petitions shall be on 8 and ½ x 11 "white paper.

A. General. Pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-35-6, any interested person may petition the Department requesting the promulgation, amendment or repeal of any rule or regulation. Where the petition requests the promulgation of a rule or regulation, the requested or proposed rule must be set out in full. The petition must also include all the reasons for the requested rule or regulation together with briefs of any applicable law. Where the petition requests the amendment or repeal of a rule or regulation presently in effect, the rule or regulation or the applicable portion thereof in question must be set out as well as a suggested amended form, if any. The petition must include all reasons for the requested amendment or repeal of the rule or regulation. All petitions shall be considered by the Department. Within a reasonable time the Department shall, in its sole discretion, take one the following actions:

1. Issue a declaratory ruling; or

2. Solicit written argument from the filer and any other person(s) that the Department reasonably believes would be interested in the issue(s). The Department will, thereafter, issue a declaratory based upon the written submissions; or

3. Set a reasonable time and place for hearing argument upon the matter and give reasonable notification to the filer and any other person(s) that the Department reasonably believes would be interested in the issues of the time and place for such hearing and of the issues involved.

4. If either §§ 4.4(A)(2) or (3) of this Part above is utilized, the Department shall within a reasonable time after receipt of written submission or after the hearing is held issue a binding declaratory ruling.

B. Form of Petition. Any interested person petitioning the Department requesting the promulgation, amendment or repeal of any rule or regulation shall generally adhere to the following form for such purpose:

1. Petitions may be submitted electronically or in hard copy.

2. At the top of the page shall appear the wording "Before the Department of Labor & Training." On the left side of the page below the foregoing, the following caption shall be set out: "In the Matter of the Petition of (name of petitioning party) for (state whether promulgation, amendment or repeal) of (identity rule or regulation)." Opposite the forgoing caption shall appear the word "Petition."

3. The body of the petition shall be set out in numbered paragraphs. The first paragraph shall state the name and address of the petitioning party and whether petitioner seeks the promulgation of a new rule(s) or regulation(s). The second paragraph, in case of a proposed new rule or regulation or amendment of an existing rule or regulation shall set forth the desired rule or regulation in its entirety. Where the petition is for amendment, the proposed amendments shall be set forth in a manner which clearly indicates the additions and deletions proposed. Where the petition is for repeal of an existing rule or regulation, such shall be stated and the rule or regulation proposed to be repealed shall be referred to by Department number. The third paragraph shall set forth concisely the reasons for the proposal of petitioner and shall contain a statement as to the interest of the petitioner in the subject matter of the rule or regulation. Additional numbered paragraphs may be used to give full explanation or petitioner's reasons for the action sought.

4. Petitions shall clearly identify the filer and/or his or her authorized representative and the date of submission of the petition.

5. If submitted in hard copy the original and two (2) copies shall be filed with the Department and petitions shall be submitted on 8 and ½ x 11" inch white paper.