Rule making procedure.

(A) In adopting rules pursuant to Chapter 117. of the Revised Code, the auditor of state or the auditor of state's designee shall do both of the following: (1) Before adopting any such rule, except a rule of an emergency nature, do each of the following: (a) At least thirty-five days before any public hearing on the proposed rule-making action, mail or send by electronic mail notice of the hearing to each public office and to each statewide organization that the auditor of state or designee determines will be affected or that represents persons who will be affected by the proposed rule-making action; (b) Mail or send by electronic mail a copy of the proposed rule to any person or organization that requests a copy within five days after receipt of the request; (c) Consult with appropriate state and local government agencies, or with persons representative of their interests, including statewide organizations of local government officials, and consult with accounting professionals and other interested persons; (d) Conduct, on the date and at the time and place designated in the notice, a public hearing at which any person affected by the proposed rule, including statewide organizations of local government officials, may appear and be heard in person, by attorney, or both, and may present the person's or organization's position or contentions orally or in writing. (2) Comply with section 111.15 of the Revised Code. (B) The auditor of state shall diligently discharge the duties imposed by divisions (A)(1)(a), (b), and (c) of this section, but failure to mail or send by electronic mail any notice or copy of a proposed rule, or to consult with any person or organization, shall not invalidate any rule. (C) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Revised Code, the auditor of state may prepare and disseminate, to public offices and other interested persons and organizations, advisory bulletins, directives, and instructions relating to accounting and financial reporting systems, budgeting procedures, fiscal controls, and the constructions by the auditor of state of constitutional and statutory provisions, court decisions, and opinions of the attorney general. The bulletins, directives, and instructions shall be of an advisory nature only. (D) As used in this section, "rule" includes the adoption, amendment, or rescission of a rule. The Legislative Service Commission presents the text of this section as a composite of the section as amended by multiple acts of the General Assembly. This presentation recognizes the principle stated in R.C. 1.52(B) that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation.