(a)  Before a board, department or office within the agency adopts chemical risk assessment guidelines or policies for evaluating the toxicity of chemicals or prepares a health evaluation of a chemical that will be used in the regulatory process of another board, department, or office, the board, department, or office shall first convene a public workshop at which the guidelines, policies, or health evaluation may be discussed. The public workshop shall be designed to encourage a constructive dialogue between the scientists employed by the board, department, or office that prepared the proposed guidelines or policies or health evaluation and scientists not employed by that board, department, or office and to evaluate the degree to which the proposed guidelines or policies or health evaluation are based on sound scientific methods, knowledge, and practice. Following the workshop, the agency shall revise the guidelines, policies, or health evaluation, as appropriate, and circulate it for public comment for a period of at least 30 days.

(b)  In any case where the guidelines, policies, or health evaluations described in subdivision (a) are proposed, or are being prepared, pursuant to a statutory requirement that specifies a procedure or a time period for carrying out the requirement, the requirements of subdivision (a) do not authorize a delay or a postponement in carrying out the statutory requirement.

(Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 418, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 1994.)