Have you ever wondered how the Arizona Game and Fish Department creates the rules for hunters, anglers and other customers? In addition to making sure that Game and Fish rules and policies are concise and easy to understand, the Department’s Rules and Risk Section is responsible for ensuring that all rules and policies meet statutory requirements before they are submitted to the Secretary of State, Attorney General, or Governor’s Regulatory Review Council for final approval.

The rulemaking process

1. Rulemaking officially begins when the Department submits a “Notice of Docket Opening.” This allows the public process to start.
2. The Department holds internal meetings to develop a course of action and draft rule language. Public comments received since the previous rule review regarding rule changes are considered during this time.
3. The Department presents draft rule language to the Commission for review and approval.
4. The Department notifies the public about opportunities to comment on the draft.
5. If the Commission approves, the “Notice of Proposed Rulemaking” is submitted to the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office for publication in the Arizona Administrative Register. Once the proposed rule is published, the public is given 30 days to submit further comments about the proposed rule.
6. Anyone can file a comment. Comments are just that; in your own words, tell the Department what you think about the draft rule language and why you support or oppose the rulemaking. The “Notice of Proposed Rulemaking” provides the specific dates, deadlines, and contact information for filing a comment.
7. The Department reconvenes again internally to determine how to address the comments. The Department must determine whether the comments meets the mission and goals of the Commission, does not place an undue burden on members of the public or the Department, does not discriminate against a special class of persons, and is permitted under statute.
8. The Department finalizes the rulemaking and submits the draft “Notice of Final Rulemaking” to the Commission for review and approval.
9. If the Commission approves, the Department submits the package to the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council (GRRC) for review and approval.
10. GRRC holds a regularly scheduled public meeting to review the final rulemaking and determine whether to approve or reject the rulemaking.
11. If approved, the “Notice of Final Rulemaking” is submitted to the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office for publication in the Arizona Administrative Register.
12. The new rule becomes effective 60 days after the “Notice of Final Rulemaking” is filed in the Secretary of State's Office.

The above rulemaking description is not comprehensive. It is meant only to provide a brief overview of the rulemaking process and is not binding on the Commission or Department. Furthermore, different types of rulemakings, such as emergency rulemaking or exempt rulemaking, require separate procedures for completion.

For more information on our rules or to submit a comment on a rulemaking, contact our Rules and Risk Departmen:

Rules and Risk Department
Office: (623) 236-7390
E-mail: Rulemaking@azgfd.gov

Arizona Game and Fish Laws and Rules, 2007-2008 Edition [PDF, 1mb]

Arizona Game and Fish Laws and Rules, 2007-2008 Supplement [PDF, 426 KB]