(a) The department may adopt any regulations that it determines are necessary for the enforcement of this part. The regulations shall be adopted by the department in the manner prescribed by Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. The department shall, insofar as practicable, make these regulations conform with those adopted under the federal act or by the United States Department of Agriculture or by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States Treasury Department.
(b) (1) The department may adopt emergency regulations to implement this division.
(2) The department may readopt any emergency regulation authorized by this section that is the same as, or substantially equivalent to, an emergency regulation previously adopted as authorized by this section. That readoption shall be limited to one time for each regulation.
(3) Notwithstanding any other law, the initial adoption of emergency regulations and the readoption of emergency regulations authorized by this section shall be deemed an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or general welfare. The initial emergency regulations and the readopted emergency regulations authorized by this section shall be each submitted to the Office of Administrative Law for filing with the Secretary of State and shall remain in effect for no more than 180 days, by which time final regulations shall be adopted.
(c) Initial regulations regarding industrial hemp shall be exempt from the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), except that the department shall post the proposed regulations on its internet website for public comment for 30 days. The comments received shall be considered by the department and the final adopted regulations shall be filed with the Office of Administrative Law for publication in the California Code of Regulations. This exemption does not apply to regulations adopted pursuant to Section 111921.3 or 111922.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 576, Sec. 5. (AB 45) Effective October 6, 2021.)