The office shall adopt guidelines setting forth the requirements, format, timing, and any other matters required to exercise its powers, perform its duties, and meet its responsibilities described in Sections 326, 326.1, and 326.2 and Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 8385) of Division 4.1 of the Public Utilities Code at a publicly noticed meeting during which the office presents proposed guidelines or guideline amendments and allows all interested stakeholders and members of the public an opportunity to comment. Not less than 10 days’ public notice shall be given of any meetings required by this section, before the office initially adopts guidelines. Substantive changes to the guidelines shall not be adopted without at least 30 days’ written notice to the public and opportunity to comment. Any guidelines adopted pursuant to this section are exempt from the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2. Any duly adopted rules or guidelines in effect and utilized by the Wildfire Safety Division at the time of transition to the office shall remain valid and in effect as to the office pending the adoption of new or amended guidelines by the office pursuant to this section.

(Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 115, Sec. 21. (AB 148) Effective July 22, 2021.)