Regulatory Transactions

Editor’s Note: The Framework is subject to the Data Quality Act including the requirement that federally-disseminated documents posess “utility.”  See here.

From: Bloomberg BNA/Chemical Reporter

By Pat Rizzuto

Nov. 27 — The federal approach to regulating bioengineered products is a confusing labyrinth, according to companies, trade associations, advocacy groups and scientists.

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“Developers of products sometimes cannot easily ascertain whether potential products would be subject to regulations,” said the American Society of Plant Biologists, which joined nearly a thousand organizations and individuals that submitted comments on the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology.

From: The Hill

By Lydia Wheeler – 11/26/15 06:00 AM EST

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From: The National Law Review

That’s when the final rule on the white collar overtime exemptions is expected to be published by the DOL – this according to the OMB’s Fall 2015 Unified Agenda and Regulatory Plan released last Thursday.  Just one week earlier the Solicitor of Labor, M. Patricia Smith, reportedly told attendees at a conference that the DOL was targeting a release in “late 2016.”

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From: The Hill

By Lydia Wheeler

The White House on Friday unveiled its semiannual regulatory agenda, detailing the rules that federal agencies will make top priorities in the next year.

The Obama administration’s fall Unified Agenda contains hundreds of rules in the works at agencies across the government, including many that have been in the pipeline for years. The new agenda updates progress on many of the rules, providing new insight about the president’s regulatory priorities during his last months in office.

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From: RegBlog |Penn Program on Regulation

James Rathz

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Some lawyers and scholars believe that the CFPB does not have authority to block arbitration provisions. They claim that the CFPB’s own study does not support the inference that the regulation would serve the public interest, and that the rule is an unwarranted restriction on the right to enter contracts.

Before formally proposing the rule, the CFPB is working with other agencies to assess its potential impact. The agency, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Small Business Administration are seeking input about the planned rule from small businesses before moving forward.

Editor’s Note: The OSHA rule should incorporate a mechanism allowing persons to seek and obtain correction of erroneous or misleading data. See, Correcting Federal Databases: A Procedural Guide.

From: Lexology

David L. Smith | Constangy Brooks Smith & Prophete LLP

A draft final rule on electronic tracking of employers’ injury and illness records has been sent to the White House’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. This is the last stage of review and approval before the final rule is issued and takes effect.

From: CU Press

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Survey Content for Public Comment 

NAFCU appreciates the CFPB’s consideration of consumers’ use and understanding of overdraft services prior to proposing any regulations in the market. Any premature regulation in the market could disrupt consumer access to important and transparent financial services. NAFCU and our members are concerned that the Bureau did not include in its submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a draft survey instrument on which the public could comment.

From: Biology Fortified

by Anastasia Bodnar

October 30, 2015 was the first of three public meetings to collect ideas about how to improve US biotech regulation and how the agencies conduct public outreach. You can get updates from the White House, and get notified about the next meeting. This post describes why comments matter and who should comment.

We’ve made it easy for everyone to provide comments to the White House, and you can learn more at our post: You can improve US biotechnology regulation.