§18B-17-1. Legislative authorization; effective date of rules; technical deficiencies waived.

(a) Under the provisions of article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of the Code of West Virginia, the Legislature expressly authorizes the promulgation of the rules described in this article, subject only to the limitations set forth with respect to each rule in the section or sections of this chapter authorizing its promulgation. The Legislature further declares that all rules now or hereafter authorized in this article are within the legislative intent of the statute which the rule is intended to implement, extend, apply or interpret.

(b) The effective date of the legislative rules authorized in this article is governed by the provisions of section fourteen, article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code unless the governing board promulgating the rules establishes an effective date which is earlier than that provided by that section, in which case the effective date established by the governing board shall control, unless the Legislature, in the bill authorizing the rules, establishes an effective date for the rules, in which case the effective date established by the Legislature controls.

(c) The Legislature further declares each legislative rule now or hereafter authorized under this article to have been validly promulgated, notwithstanding any failure to comply with any requirement of article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code relating to the promulgation of rules at any stage of the promulgation process prior to authorization by the Legislature in this article.