Chapter 1 – General Administration

12010.1 Policy

• The Regulation and Policy Management Branch (RPMBRegulation and Policy Management Branch) provides guidance and support to Department staff in order to achieve the Department’s regulation and policy goals and comply with statutory requirements.

• RPMBRegulation and Policy Management Branch does as follows:

  • On behalf of the Secretary, facilitates and manages the revision, publication, distribution, and archiving of the regulations in California Code of Regulations (CCRCalifornia Code of Regulations), Title 15, Division 3, Chapter 1 (Title 15) and the statewide operational policies in the Department Operations Manual (DOMDepartment Operations Manual). Partners with Department programs that have the responsibility for and the subject matter expertise pertaining to the content of proposed regulations and policies, providing advice and assistance to ensure that regulations are adopted in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (APAAdministrative Procedure Act) (Government Code [GCGovernment Code] Section 11340, et seq.), which contains requirements and timeframes for the public adoption of regulations, and that policies have the legal authority to be administratively enforceable.

  • Ensures that proposed regulations and policies do not conflict with existing laws and are vetted by Department stakeholders that are impacted by the changes proposed.

  • Acts as custodian of the Restricted Department Operations Manual (R-DOMDepartment Operations Manual), which consists of DOMDepartment Operations Manual sections within the 55000 sequence and contains the Department’s most sensitive tactical and law enforcement policies. All revisions to these policies are managed through the Statewide R-DOMDepartment Operations Manual coordinators.

  • Works with programs to develop Instructional Memorandums (IMs) and Informational Bulletins.

  • Works with the Office of Administrative Law (OALOffice of Administrative Law) to file rulemaking packages, issues public notices regarding regulation changes that are published in the California Regulatory Notice Register, and manages the public phase of the Department’s rulemaking actions.

  • Manages the development and revision of Department forms to ensure compliance with GCGovernment Code Section 14772 and Department regulations and policies. Maintains the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCRCalifornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation) Forms Portal, acts as the forms liaison with other State agencies, and coordinates the printing of Department forms.

  • Maintains a Department rulemaking library that includes topical, historical, and background files for past regulation and policy revisions, forms revisions, petitions for determination of underground regulations, and Informational Bulletins.

  • Maintains Department webpages that include links to pending regulations and recently adopted regulations and policies.

• The Health Care Regulations and Policy Section (RPSRelease Program Study) of California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) provides guidance and support to Department staff in order to achieve the Department’s regulation and policy goals as they pertain to health care. RPSRelease Program Study manages the amendment and adoption of the regulations in CCRCalifornia Code of Regulations, Title 15, Division 3, Chapter 2 as well as the statewide operational policies pertaining to health care in the Health Care Department Operations Manual. RPSRelease Program Study also manages the development and revision of Department forms pertaining to health care.

• All documents submitted to RPMBRegulation and Policy Management Branch must be accessible in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Additionally, RPMBRegulation and Policy Management Branch does not accept documents where edits have been made using the “Track Changes” feature in Microsoft Word, or scanned documents.