There is no official publisher of the complete New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules. The Office of Legislative Services, Administrative Rules does not publish rules. Each agency publishes its own rules. But RSA 541-A:15, I specifies an "official version" of a rule.

Once an agency adopts and files a rule in hard copy with the Administrative Rules office pursuant to RSA 541-A, the Administrative Rules office enters the text into the Administrative Rules word processing database and assists the agency in preparing an edited version of the rule in an 8 1/2 x 11-inch camera-ready format for publication. Editing includes insertion of tables of contents, headers and footers, and Administrative Rules annotations called source notes and revision notes. Each agency is required by the Director of the Office of Legislative Services to publish all of its effective rules in this camera-ready format. See RSA 541-A:15, I and I-a and Chapter 5 and Appendix I of the New Hampshire Drafting and Procedure Manual for Administrative Rules.

Pursuant to 1998, 346, for rules filed and effective after August 25, 1998, the "as-filed" rule remains the "official version" of the rule unless or until the agency "certifies" that the camera-ready rule is the same in substance as originally filed. If the agency certifies, then this certified rule becomes the official version, and the Administrative Rules office places the text of the certified rule online in Agency Administrative Rules.

Online Copies of Rules from the Administrative Rules Web Site

An effective rule will not appear on Agency Administrative Rules until the agency certifies the rule as described above. Expired rules are deleted or their source notes marked "Expired" once their expiration is known to the Administrative Rules office. If an existing rule has been amended or superseded by a later filing, the online rule will not be updated until the agency certifies the updated rule. See How to Double-Check the On-Line Rule to determine if the online rule is current. The online rule text, including text of the Administrative Rules office’s editorial work, such as source notes, revision notes, and tables of contents, is otherwise identical with the certified, official version of the rule. However, the rules as they appear on the Administrative Rules web site are NOT the official version under RSA 541-A since the format of online rules is not exactly the same as the official version, the online rule text may have been amended or superseded by a later filing that has not yet been certified and placed online, and online rules may have expired. See How to Double-Check the On-Line Rule.

Obtaining Copies of the Official Version from Administrative Rules Office

Agencies, legislators, and the public may request a copy of the official version of currently effective rules from the Administrative Rules office.

    Mailing and Office Address:

    Office of Legislative Services Administrative Rules
    25 Capitol Street, Room 219
    Concord, NH 03301-6312

    Phone / Fax:

    Tel. (603) 271-3680
    Fax (603) 271-7871
    TDD Access: Relay NH 1-800-735-2964 or dial 711 (in NH)

    Email: adminrules@leg.state.nh.us

Cost of Copies from the Administrative Rules Office
Format Cost
Hard Copy *$.20 per page for the public, but no charge to legislators or N. H. state agencies.
E-Mail No charge, but available only for certified rules.
Website See above.

*Make checks payable to "Treasurer, State of New Hampshire."

Director's Copy of a Rule with an Affidavit

Upon an oral or written request for evidentiary purposes, the Administrative Rules office will prepare an affidavit signed by the Director or the Director’s designee with a hard copy of the "official version" of effective rules, or a copy of expired rules. The affidavit in this sense "certifies" that the attached is a true copy of the rule. The affidavit will be either notarized or signed by a Justice of the Peace. There is no charge for this service to an agency or a legislator. The charge to others is $.20 per page for each rule.

Agencies

Each agency must maintain a file of its own currently effective rules in the official version open to the public. See RSA 541-A:14, IV and RSA 541-A:15, I. An agency may charge the actual cost of preparing a copy. See RSA 541-A:11, VI. These rules are also public records and must be open and available as required by RSA 91-A:4, IV, the Right-to-Know Law.

State Library

The State Library receives the "official version" of rules, both as-filed and as certified, declaratory rulings, and agency filing histories from the Administrative Rules office. It may also have unofficial publications of rules from private publishers. Several state agencies also place rules on the "Webster" web site maintained by the State Library at nh.gov. The Office of Legislative Services, Administrative Rules, makes no representation regarding the accuracy of rules published by private publishers or of rules placed by an agency on the "Webster" web site. For copies, requests shall be made to:

    New Hampshire State Library
    Reference and Information Services
    20 Park Street
    Concord, NH 03301-6314

    Tel. (603) 271-2144, 271-2239
    Fax (603) 271-2205
    TDD Access: Relay NH 1-800-735-2964 or dial 711 (in NH)
N.H. Law Library

The N. H. Law Library at the State Supreme Court receives from the Administrative Rules office the same rules and other documents as the State Library. For copies or questions, requests shall be made to:

    John W. King New Hampshire Law Library
    Supreme Court Building
    One Charles Doe Drive
    Concord, NH 03301

    Tel. (603) 271-3777
    Fax (603) 513-5450
    E-mail: lawlibrary@courts.state.nh.us
    TDD Access: Relay NH 1-800-735-2964 or dial 711 (in NH)
Private Publishers

As noted above, there is no official publisher of the entire New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules. A few private publishers have published some or most of the state’s rules, but they are not official publishers. The Office of Legislative Services, Administrative Rules does not endorse any particular publisher and makes no representation about the accuracy of these products.