Administrative Conference Meets
Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), the Assembly of the Administrative Conference of the United States will hold a meeting to consider three proposed recommendations and to conduct other business. This meeting will be open to the public.

The meeting will take place on Thursday, December 4, 2014, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on Friday, December 5, 2014, 9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

The meeting will be held at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Three Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st Street NW., Washington, DC 20581 (Main Conference Room).

The Administrative Conference of the United States makes recommendations to federal agencies, the President, Congress, and the Judicial Conference of the United States regarding the improvement of administrative procedures.

At its December meeting, the Assembly will discuss and consider three proposed recommendations as described below:

Retrospective Review of Agency Rules. This recommendation examines agencies' procedures for reanalyzing and amending existing regulations and offers recommendations designed to promote a culture of retrospective review at agencies. Among other things, it urges agencies to plan for retrospective review when drafting new regulations; highlights considerations germane to selecting regulations for reevaluation; identifies factors relevant to ensuring robust review; and encourages agencies to coordinate with the Office of Management and Budget, sister agencies, and outside entities (including stakeholders and foreign regulators) when designing and conducting retrospective reviews.

Petitions for Rulemaking.  This recommendation identifies agency procedures and best practices for accepting, processing, and responding to petitions for rulemaking. It seeks to ensure that the public's right to petition is a meaningful one, while still respecting the need for agencies to retain decisional autonomy. Building upon ACUS's previous work on the subject, it provides additional guidance that may make the petitioning process more useful for agencies, petitioners, and the public.

Best Practices for Using Video Teleconferencing for Hearings.  This recommendation offers practical guidance regarding how best to conduct video hearings, and addresses the following subjects: Equipment and environment, training, financial considerations, procedural practices, fairness and satisfaction, and collaboration among agencies. It also provides for the development of a video hearings handbook by ACUS's Office of the Chairman.