§307102 Effective Date of Regulations

Summary

A final regulation issued by the Secretary cannot take effect until at least 30 calendar days have passed after it appears in the Federal Register while either or both Houses of Congress are meeting. Both Houses can stop the rule if, within 90 calendar days of continuous session after the rule was issued, they pass a concurrent resolution saying they disapprove the specific rule and naming the date it was sent to Congress. If no committee acts and neither House adopts such a resolution after 60 continuous session days, the rule may go into effect right away. If a committee does act within those 60 days, the rule cannot take effect before 90 continuous session days unless Congress disapproves it. Continuous session ends only when Congress adjourns sine die, and days lost to an adjournment longer than 3 days to a set date do not count toward the 60 or 90 days. If Congress does nothing or rejects a disapproval resolution, that is not the same as saying Congress approves the rule.