(a) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the department may implement, interpret, or make specific the amendments to this division made by the act that added this section by means of all-county letters or similar instructions from the department until regulations are adopted. The department shall adopt emergency regulations no later than July 1, 2014. The department may readopt any emergency regulation authorized by this section that is the same as or substantially equivalent to an emergency regulation previously adopted under this section.

(b) The initial adoption of emergency regulations pursuant to this section and one readoption of emergency regulations shall be deemed an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or general welfare. Initial emergency regulations and the one readoption of emergency regulations authorized by this section shall be exempt from review by the Office of Administrative Law. The initial emergency regulations and the one readoption of emergency regulations authorized by this section shall be submitted to the Office of Administrative Law for filing with the Secretary of State and each shall remain in effect for no more than 180 days, by which time final regulations may be adopted.

(c) (1) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, for purposes of child welfare services programs and activities described in Divisions 2 and 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and in Division 13 of the Family Code, the department may, after consultation with counties and other appropriate stakeholders, make rule changes by means of all-county letters of similar instructions from the department pending enactment of state legislation only when necessary to conform to newly enacted federal law and only when both of the following conditions exist:

(A) The newly enacted federal law does not provide for delayed implementation pending state legislation, and existing state law either: (i) is inconsistent with the newly enacted federal law, or (ii) does not address the subject matter associated with the newly enacted federal law.

(B) The rule change is necessary to retain or maximize federal financial participation that is impacted by the newly enacted federal law.

(2) Any all-county letter or similar instruction issued by the department pursuant to this subdivision shall expire 15 months after issuance by the department unless state legislation ratifying the rule changes has been enacted.

(Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 35, Sec. 73. (SB 1013) Effective June 27, 2012.)