§ 203. Filing; effective date. 1. Except as provided in subdivision two of this section, no rule shall become effective until it is filed with the secretary of state and the notice of adoption is published in the state register pursuant to subdivision five of section two hundred two of this article, unless: (i) a later date is required by statute or is specified in the rule, (ii) adopted as an emergency rule pursuant to subdivision six of section two hundred two of this article, or (iii) defined as a rule in subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (a) of subdivision two of section one hundred two of this chapter. Each rule submitted for filing shall have attached thereto the certificate required under subdivision two of section one hundred two of the executive law. 2. (a) An agency may, after a rule is filed with the secretary of state pursuant to subdivision one of this section and prior to the effective date of such rule, amend, suspend or repeal such rule prior to the effective date without complying with the provisions of subdivision one of section two hundred two of this article. If an agency amends, suspends or repeals a rule pursuant to this subdivision, such agency shall file a notice of adoption pursuant to subdivision five of section two hundred two of this article, provided, however, that such notice of adoption shall identify the rule which is being amended, suspended or repealed pursuant to this subdivision, provided, further, for the purposes of compliance with subparagraphs (iii), (v) and (vi) of paragraph (c) of subdivision five of such section two hundred two, the text of the rule as adopted pursuant to subdivision one of this section shall be compared with the text of the rule being amended, suspended or repealed pursuant to this subdivision.(b) An agency may not amend, suspend or repeal a rule pursuant to this subdivision if such action would constitute a substantial revision of the rule as adopted. To determine if such action constitutes a substantial revision of the adopted rule, such amendment, suspension or repeal shall be compared with the text of the rule which was filed with the secretary of state pursuant to subdivision one of this section. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply if such amendment, suspension or repeal only delays the effective date of such rule. 3. The secretary of state shall reject any rule submitted for filing by an agency where the notice of proposed rule making for such rule has expired pursuant to the provisions of section two hundred two of this chapter. 4. If a rule requires a regulated party to develop a written plan or compliance document which must be submitted to or retained for inspection by the agency, the agency is required to, upon request of one or more regulated parties, prepare a model of such a written plan or compliance document to provide guidance as to the content and form of such written plan or compliance document and the minimum elements which such written plan or compliance document should contain. The availability of any such model plan or document shall be communicated to regulated parties through publication in the state register and by any other means which the agency determines to be efficient and effective, and shall be made available to regulated parties and the public within the time frame established for submission of the written plan or compliance documents. Unless otherwise prohibited by law, when an agency has prepared a model plan or document pursuant to this subdivision, it may extend the final date for submitting a written plan or compliance document for an additional period, not to exceed ninety days, if such an extension is deemed necessary to permit regulated parties to use the model plan as guidance in developing their written plans or compliance documents. Whenever a model plan is prepared, the agency shall cause a notice to be published in the state register indicating that it has prepared a model plan and identifying the written plan or compliance document for which the model plan or document has been prepared. Such notice shall also indicate whether the final date for submitting a written plan or compliance document has been extended pursuant to this subdivision, and, if so, shall set forth the new final date for submission.
