APA Comment Letter (General)

PUBLIC COMMENT ON PROPOSED RULEMAKING

NEW JERSEY ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE ACT — N.J.S.A. 52:14B-4

RULEMAKING INFORMATION

COMMENT LETTER

Date: [__/__/____]

Via: ☐ U.S. Mail ☐ Email ☐ Electronic submission portal ☐ Hand delivery ☐ Facsimile

[Agency Name]
[________________________________]
Attn: [________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[City, State ZIP]

Email (if applicable): [________________________________]

Re: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

• New Jersey Register Citation: [____] N.J.R. [________________________________]
• Publication Date: [__/__/____]
• Proposal Number: PRN [________________________________]
• New Jersey Administrative Code Citation: N.J.A.C. [________________________________]
• Proposed Rule Title: [________________________________]
• Comment Deadline: [__/__/____]

Dear [________________________________] (Agency Contact / Rulemaking Officer):

I. IDENTIFICATION OF COMMENTER

1. The following comment is submitted by [________________________________] ("Commenter") regarding the above-referenced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published in the New Jersey Register on [__/__/____].

2. Commenter is a ☐ individual / ☐ business entity / ☐ trade or professional association / ☐ nonprofit organization / ☐ governmental entity / ☐ law firm / ☐ other: [________________________________].

3. Commenter's address is [________________________________], [________________________________], New Jersey [____].

4. Contact person: [________________________________]
   - Telephone: [________________________________]
   - Email: [________________________________]

5. Commenter's interest in this rulemaking: [________________________________]

(Describe your relationship to the subject matter — e.g., regulated entity, industry participant, consumer advocate, affected community member, legal practitioner.)

II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF COMMENTS

6. Commenter respectfully submits the following principal comments and recommendations regarding the proposed rule:

a. Comment 1: [________________________________]

b. Comment 2: [________________________________]

c. Comment 3: [________________________________]

d. Comment 4: [________________________________]

III. DETAILED COMMENTS AND ANALYSIS

A. Comment on Proposed N.J.A.C. [________________________________]

7. Proposed Rule Text (Section/Subsection): [________________________________]

8. Specific Concern: [________________________________]

(Describe the specific provision of the proposed rule that is the subject of this comment. Identify the section number, subsection, and relevant language. Explain the concern clearly.)

9. Legal Authority Analysis:

a. The proposed rule ☐ exceeds / ☐ is consistent with / ☐ is in tension with the Agency's statutory authority under [________________________________] (cite enabling statute).

b. The proposed rule ☐ is consistent with / ☐ conflicts with existing rules at N.J.A.C. [________________________________].

c. Relevant case law: [________________________________]

10. Impact Analysis:

a. Economic impact: [________________________________]

b. Regulatory burden: [________________________________]

c. Impact on small businesses: [________________________________] (Note: N.J.S.A. 52:14B-19 through 52:14B-25 require agencies to consider the impact on small businesses and minimize compliance burdens where feasible.)

d. Impact on jobs: [________________________________] (Note: Executive Order No. 2 (2010) requires agencies to assess the impact of proposed rules on job creation and retention.)

11. Recommended Change: [________________________________]

(Provide specific alternative language, modifications, or deletion of the provision. Be as precise as possible.)

12. Supporting Data/Evidence: [________________________________]

B. Comment on Proposed N.J.A.C. [________________________________]

13. Proposed Rule Text: [________________________________]

14. Specific Concern: [________________________________]

15. Legal Authority Analysis: [________________________________]

16. Impact Analysis: [________________________________]

17. Recommended Change: [________________________________]

18. Supporting Data/Evidence: [________________________________]

C. Comment on Proposed N.J.A.C. [________________________________]

19. Proposed Rule Text: [________________________________]

20. Specific Concern: [________________________________]

21. Legal Authority Analysis: [________________________________]

22. Impact Analysis: [________________________________]

23. Recommended Change: [________________________________]

24. Supporting Data/Evidence: [________________________________]

IV. PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE RULE LANGUAGE (IF APPLICABLE)

25. Commenter proposes the following alternative language for the provisions identified above:

Current Proposed Language:

[________________________________]

Commenter's Recommended Language:

[________________________________]

Explanation of Changes: [________________________________]

V. REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY AND SMALL BUSINESS IMPACT

26. Pursuant to the New Jersey Regulatory Flexibility Act (N.J.S.A. 52:14B-16 et seq.), Commenter requests that the Agency consider:

a. ☐ The proposed rule imposes disproportionate compliance costs on small businesses (as defined in N.J.S.A. 52:14B-17)

b. ☐ Less burdensome alternatives exist that would achieve the regulatory objective: [________________________________]

c. ☐ Extended compliance timelines should be provided for small businesses: [________________________________]

d. ☐ Simplified reporting or recordkeeping requirements should be adopted for small businesses: [________________________________]

VI. ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT REVIEW

27. Commenter provides the following comments on the Agency's Economic Impact Statement:

a. ☐ The Agency's cost estimates are accurate
b. ☐ The Agency's cost estimates understate the actual costs because: [________________________________]
c. ☐ The Agency failed to account for the following costs: [________________________________]
d. ☐ The benefits identified by the Agency are overstated because: [________________________________]
e. ☐ Additional data regarding economic impact: [________________________________]

VII. REQUEST FOR PUBLIC HEARING

28. ☐ Commenter requests that the Agency hold a public hearing on the proposed rule pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:14B-4(a)(3).

Justification: [________________________________]

29. ☐ Commenter requests an extension of the comment period pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:14B-4(a)(3).

Justification: [________________________________]

VIII. CONCLUSION

30. For the foregoing reasons, Commenter respectfully requests that the Agency:

a. ☐ Withdraw the proposed rule in its entirety
b. ☐ Adopt the proposed rule with the modifications recommended herein
c. ☐ Repropose the rule with substantive changes and provide a new comment period
d. ☐ Extend the comment period to allow for additional public input
e. ☐ Hold a public hearing before adopting the rule
f. ☐ Other: [________________________________]

31. Commenter appreciates the opportunity to participate in this rulemaking and is available to provide additional information, data, or testimony in support of these comments.

Respectfully submitted,

________________________________________
[Name]
[Title]
[Organization]
[Address Line 1]
[Address Line 2]
[City, State ZIP]
[Telephone]
[Email]

Date: [__/__/____]

COMMENT PREPARATION CHECKLIST

☐ Identify the proposed rule in the New Jersey Register by citation and PRN number
☐ Verify the comment deadline (30 days from publication date)
☐ Obtain and review the full text of the proposed rule at N.J.A.C. [________________________________]
☐ Review the Agency's notice of proposal, including the summary, social impact statement, economic impact statement, and regulatory flexibility analysis
☐ Identify all sections of the proposed rule that affect your interests
☐ Research the Agency's statutory authority and any relevant case law
☐ Gather supporting data, economic analyses, and expert opinions
☐ Draft specific recommended changes with alternative rule language where possible
☐ Review comments for accuracy, completeness, and professionalism
☐ Confirm the correct submission method (mail, email, electronic portal)
☐ Retain a copy of the submitted comment and proof of delivery
☐ Calendar the close of the comment period and any public hearing dates

COMMON ISSUES CHECKLIST

Review the proposed rule for the following common concerns:

☐ Statutory Authority — Does the Agency have authority to adopt the proposed rule under its enabling statute?
☐ Legislative Intent — Is the proposed rule consistent with the intent of the authorizing legislation?
☐ Constitutional Issues — Does the proposed rule raise due process, equal protection, or other constitutional concerns?
☐ Vagueness — Are the terms and requirements of the proposed rule sufficiently clear and definite?
☐ Consistency — Is the proposed rule consistent with other existing rules and regulations?
☐ Federal Preemption — Does the proposed rule conflict with federal law or regulations?
☐ Economic Impact — Are the costs of compliance reasonable in proportion to the regulatory benefit?
☐ Small Business Impact — Does the proposed rule adequately minimize the burden on small businesses per the Regulatory Flexibility Act?
☐ Enforceability — Are the compliance obligations clear and practically enforceable?
☐ Effective Date — Is the proposed effective date reasonable for compliance preparation?
☐ Transition Provisions — Are adequate transition or phase-in provisions included?
☐ Recordkeeping — Are reporting and recordkeeping requirements reasonable?

NEW JERSEY RULEMAKING PROCESS OVERVIEW

1. Notice of Proposal — Agency publishes in the New Jersey Register
2. Public Comment Period — Minimum 30 days; can be extended 30 days if sufficient public interest
3. Public Hearing — Required upon request by legislative committee, governmental body, or showing of sufficient public interest
4. Agency Response — Agency must prepare a summary of public comments and its responses
5. Notice of Adoption — Published in the New Jersey Register; rule takes effect upon publication
6. Substantial Changes — If substantial changes are made from the proposal, the Agency must republish with a new 60-day comment period
7. Expiration — Proposed rules not adopted within one year expire automatically (N.J.S.A. 52:14B-4.12)

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• New Jersey Administrative Procedure Act: N.J.S.A. 52:14B-1 et seq.
• Rulemaking Procedures: N.J.S.A. 52:14B-4
• Regulatory Flexibility Act: N.J.S.A. 52:14B-16 through 52:14B-25
• New Jersey Register: https://www.nj.gov/oal/rules/
• Office of Administrative Law: https://www.nj.gov/oal/
• New Jersey Administrative Code: https://www.nj.gov/oal/rules/accessnj/

This template is provided by ezel.ai for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be used without review by a qualified attorney licensed in New Jersey.