"I think that anybody who would oppose this bill is a fascist. This bill only will affect agencies when they go above and beyond what they have authority to do."

-- Representative Nancy Argenziano

     This year, the Florida Legislature enacted additional changes to the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). These changes are intended to clarify the limits on agency rulemaking authority and to "level the playing field" in disputes between citizens and their government. The changes enjoyed broad support in the Legislature, but they have received considerable attention from others, primarily because of claims that they would put hundreds of environmental rules in jeopardy.

Background

     In 1996, the Florida Legislature enacted significant amendments to the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). Among other things, these amendments were designed to clarify the limitations on agency rulemaking authority and to "level the playing field" in disputes between citizens and their government. Subsequently, Florida's appellate courts issued several decisions interpreting the 1996 amendments to the APA in a fashion that some legislators say was not intended. In response, measures were filed in both the House and the Senate to amend the APA to clarify the Legislature's intent. The Legislature ultimately approved the House bill, CS/HB 107, by Representative Ken Pruitt. This article summarizes some of the key provisions in the bill.

Limitations on Rulemaking Authority

     Prior to 1996, appellate courts held that a rule is valid if it is reasonably related to the purpose of the enabling legislation and is not arbitrary and capricious. In 1996, the Legislature sought to overrule this judicially created test by amending the APA to expressly provide that "[n]o agency shall have authority to adopt a rule only because it is reasonably related to the purpose of the enabling legislation and is not arbitrary and capricious." The amended language also provides that "[s]tatutory language granting rulemaking authority or generally describing the power and functions of an agency shall be construed to extend no further than the particular powers and duties conferred by the same statute."

     Last year, the First District Court of Appeal struggled to interpret this "particular powers and duties" language. In St. Johns River Water Management District v. Consolidated- Tomoka Land Co., the court recognized that there were two possible interpretations of the phrase "particular powers and duties." The statute could mean that the powers and duties delegated by the enabling statute must be "particular" in the sense that they are identified (and therefore limited to those identified) or in the sense that they are described in detail. In his final order, the administrative law judge had adopted the latter interpretation, construing the phrase to mean that the enabling statute must "detail" the powers and duties that would be the subject of the rule, and he invalidated the proposed rule. The First District Court of Appeal chose the former, less restrictive interpretation, and it reversed. The court went on to say: The question is whether the rule falls within the range of powers the Legislature has granted to the agency for the purpose of enforcing or implementing the statutes within its jurisdiction. A rule is a valid exercise of delegated legislative authority if it regulates a matter directly within the class of powers and duties identified in the statute to be implemented.

     In enacting CS/HB 107, the Legislature rejected this "class of powers and duties" interpretation. The bill requires that agency rules must be derived from "specific" legislative authority and expressly provides that an agency may not adopt a rule simply because it is within the agency's "class of powers and duties" found in the enabling statute. Environmental interest groups argued that this new language would jeopardize hundreds of existing environmental rules, and they urged that this new language apply only to those rules adopted after the effective date of the bill. Indeed, at one point the Senate bill was amended to provide that the changes to the rulemaking authority only "apply to all rules adopted after the effective date of this act." In the end, the Legislature rejected this prospective approach and instead provided simply that "it is not the intent of the Legislature to reverse the result of any specific judicial decision." On the floor, Representative Pruitt explained that this was intended merely to preserve the "law of the case" as to those who were parties to the Consolidated-Tomoka case.

     However, the bill also allows agencies to identify those rules that do not meet this clarified rulemaking standard and to shield these rules from rule challenges until the Legislature has an opportunity to determine whether to grant the necessary specific rulemaking authority.  Thus, agencies easily may protect important rules -- including environmental rules -- from rule challenges if there is any doubt as to whether these rules are authorized under the clarified rulemaking standard.

Leveling the Playing Field

     In addition to clarifying the limits on agency rulemaking authority, CS/HB 107 seeks to "level the playing field" in several respects.

Order of Presentation

    In 1996, the Legislature sought to level the playing field in proposed rule challenges. The 1996 amendments expressly provide that a proposed rule is not presumed to be valid or invalid. The amendments also ease the burden on the challenger by simply requiring the challenger to "state with particularity the objections to the proposed rule and the reasons that the proposed rule is an invalid exercise of delegated legislative authority." The agency then has the burden to prove that the proposed rule is not an invalid exercise of delegated legislative authority as to the objections raised. However, in Consolidated-Tomoka, the administrative law judge interpreted this procedure to mean that, although the agency has the ultimate burden of establishing the validity of the proposed rule, the petitioner has the burden of going forward with the evidence to support the objections. In dictum, the First District Court of Appeal indicated its approval of this interpretation. CS/HB 107 adopts this interpretation and expressly provides that the petitioner bears the burden of going forward.

Standard of Proof

     As noted, the agency has the ultimate burden to prove that the proposed rule is not an invalid exercise of delegated legislative authority as to the objections raised. However, a decision by the First District Court of Appeal suggested that the standard of proof was not clear. CS/HB 107 addresses this by expressly providing that the standard of proof in these cases is a preponderance of the evidence and not merely competent substantial evidence.

Agency Authority to Reject Recommended Conclusions of Law

     CS/HB 107 addresses an agency's authority to reject an administrative judge's recommended conclusions of law. First, the bill makes clear that the agency in its final order may reject or modify only those conclusions of law "over which the agency has substantive jurisdiction."  Second, CS/HB 107 narrows an agency's authority to reject an administrative law judge's recommended conclusions of law. Florida courts have held that an agency may reject "without limitation" an administrative law judge's recommended conclusions of law.  CS/HB 107 limits this authority by providing that, when rejecting or modifying such conclusions of law, the agency must state with particularity its reasons for rejecting or modifying the recommended conclusion of law and must make a finding that its substituted conclusion of law is as or more reasonable than the conclusion that was rejected or modified.

Retroactive Rules

     Generally speaking, an administrative rule has only prospective application.  However, the First District Court of Appeal recently created an exception and held that a rule that "merely clarifies another existing rule and does not establish new requirements" may be applied retroactively. CS/HB 107 provides that an agency may not adopt retroactive rules, including those intended to clarify existing law, unless expressly authorized by statute.

Judicial Review

     The APA provides for judicial review of agency action, and it requires the reviewing court to remand a case to the agency or to set aside agency action when it finds that the agency "has erroneously interpreted a provision of law." Nothing in the APA requires the court to defer to the agency's interpretation and nothing limits the reviewing court's authority to those cases in which the court determines that the agency's interpretation is "clearly" erroneous.  Rather, the court is to review the agency's interpretation of law de novo.  Nonetheless, some courts have held that a reviewing court must give "great deference" or "great weight" to an agency's construction of a statute or rule that the agency is charged with enforcing. Other courts have held that an agency's interpretation will not be overturned unless the interpretation is "clearly erroneous."

     At one point, the bill was amended to make it clear that a reviewing court is not to defer to an agency's construction of a statute or rule, or to otherwise afford any special weight to the agency's interpretation of a statute or rule. However, in an effort to address objections raised by the Governor's Office, this provision was removed prior to final passage.

Miscellaneous

     CS/HB 107 includes two other provisions that merit mention.

Definition of "Agency"

     The bill amends the definition of the term "agency" to expressly include a regional water supply authority. The definition also is amended to expressly exclude entities described in Chapter 298 (water control districts) and any "multicounty special district with a majority of its governing board comprised of elected persons." In addition, CS/HB 107 reorganizes the definition of "agency" in an effort to make it easier to understand.

School Districts

     Finally, district school boards are authorized to adopt rules to implement their general powers under Section 230.22, Florida Statutes, notwithstanding the new limitations on rulemaking authority.

Conclusion

     Many of the 1999 amendments to the APA are designed to address appellate decisions, including decisions interpreting the 1996 amendments. It will be interesting to see how the courts interpret these latest amendments.

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Lawrence E. Sellers, Jr., is a partner in the Tallahassee office of Holland & Knight LLP, where he practices environmental and administrative law. He received his J.D. in 1979, with honors, from the University of Florida.