Established July 1, 1980, the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) ensures that agency regulations are clear, necessary, legally valid, and available to the public. Since its creation, OAL has been and continues to be responsible for reviewing administrative regulations proposed by over 200 state agencies for compliance with the standards set forth in California’s Administrative Procedure Act (APA), for transmitting these regulations to the Secretary of State and for publishing regulations in the California Code of Regulations.
OAL assists state regulatory agencies through a formal training program, as well as through other less formal methods, to understand and comply with the Administrative Procedure Act. OAL also accepts petitions challenging alleged underground regulations–those rules issued by state agencies which meet the Administrative Procedure Act’s definition of a “regulation” but were not adopted pursuant to the APA process and are not expressly exempt.
OAL also oversees the publication and distribution, in print and on the Internet, of the California Code of Regulations and the California Regulatory Notice Register.
Other Information
Office of Administrative Law’s State Leadership Accountability Act (SLAA) Reports
OAL’s Tribal Consultation Policy memorializes OAL’s commitment to open and respectful communications with California’s Indian Tribes. Tribal Consultation Policy
As part of the Governor’s Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 2012, effective July 1, 2013, the Office of Administrative Law is now part of the Government Operations Agency.
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Contact OAL
Office of Administrative Law
300 Capitol Mall, Suite 1250
Sacramento, CA 95814-4339
Phone: (916) 323-6225
CALNET: (916) 473-6225
Fax: (916) 323-6826
Email: staff@oal.ca.gov
Reference Attorney
Voicemail Line: (916) 323-6815
Email: staff@oal.ca.gov
If you wish to receive notice of proposed rulemakings by OAL, send an email to oalproposedrulemakings@oal.ca.gov and request to be put on OAL's mailing list.