[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 29, Volume 9]
[Revised as of July 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 29CFR1953.4]

[Page 122-124]
 
                             TITLE 29--LABOR
 
CHAPTER XVII--OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT 
                          OF LABOR (CONTINUED)
 
PART 1953_CHANGES TO STATE PLANS--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 1953.4  Submission of plan supplements.

    (a) Developmental changes. (1) Sections 1902.2(b) and 1956.2(b) of 
this chapter require that each State with a developmental plan must set 
forth in its plan, as developmental steps, those changes which must be 
made to its initially-approved plan for its program to be at least as 
effective as the Federal program and a timetable for making these 
changes. The State must notify OSHA of a developmental change when it 
completes a developmental step or fails to meet any developmental step.
    (2) If the completion of a developmental step is the adoption of a 
program component which is identical to the Federal program component, 
the State need only submit documentation, such as the cover page of an 
implementing directive or a notice of promulgation, that it has adopted 
the program component, within 60 days of adoption of the change, but 
must make the underlying documentation available for Federal and public 
review upon request.
    (3) If the completion of a developmental step involves the adoption 
of policies or procedures which differ

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from the Federal program, the State must submit one copy of the required 
plan supplement within 60 days of adoption of the change.
    (4) When a developmental step is missed, the State must submit a 
supplement which documents the impact on the program of the failure to 
complete the developmental step, an explanation of why the step was not 
completed on time and a revised timetable with a new completion date 
(generally not to exceed 90 days) and any other actions necessary to 
ensure completion. Where the State has an operational status agreement 
with OSHA under Sec. 1954.3 of this Chapter, the State must provide an 
assurance that the missed step will not affect the effectiveness of 
State enforcement in any issues for which the State program has been 
deemed to be operational.
    (5) If the State fails to submit the required documentation or 
supplement, as provided in Sec. 1953.4(a)(2), (3) or (4), when the 
developmental step is scheduled for completion, OSHA shall notify the 
State that documentation or a supplement is required and set a timetable 
for submission of any required documentation or supplement, generally 
not to exceed 60 days.
    (b) Federal Program changes. (1) When a significant change in the 
Federal program would have an adverse impact on the ``at least as 
effective'' status of the State program if a parallel State program 
modification were not made, State adoption of a change in response to 
the Federal program change shall be required. A Federal program change 
that would not result in any diminution of the effectiveness of a State 
plan compared to Federal OSHA generally would not require adoption by 
the State.
    (2) Examples of significant changes to the Federal program that 
would normally require a State response would include a change in the 
Act, promulgation or revision of OSHA standards or regulations, or 
changes in policy or procedure of national importance. A Federal program 
change that only establishes procedures necessary to implement a new or 
established policy, standard or regulation does not require a State 
response, although the State would be expected to establish policies and 
procedures which are ``at least as effective,'' which must be available 
for review on request.
    (3) When there is a change in the Federal program which requires 
State action, OSHA shall advise the States. This notification shall also 
contain a date by which States must adopt a corresponding change or 
submit a statement why a program change is not necessary. This date will 
generally be six months from the date of notification, except where the 
Assistant Secretary determines that the nature or scope of the change 
requires a different time frame, for example, a change requiring 
legislative action where a State has a biennial legislature or a policy 
of major national implications requiring a shorter implementing time 
frame. State notification of intent may be required prior to adoption.
    (4) If the State change is different from the Federal program 
change, the State shall submit one copy of the required supplement 
within 60 days of State adoption. The supplement shall contain a copy of 
the relevant legislation, regulation, policy or procedure and 
documentation on how the change maintains the ``at least as effective 
as'' status of the plan.
    (5) If the State adopts a change identical to the Federal program 
change, the State is not required to submit a supplement. However, the 
State shall provide documentation that it has adopted the change, such 
as the cover page of an implementing directive or a notice of 
promulgation, within 60 days of State adoption.
    (6) The State may demonstrate why a program change is not necessary 
because the State program is already the same as or at least as 
effective as the Federal program change. Such submissions will require 
review and approval as set forth in Sec. 1953.6.
    (7) Where there is a change in the Federal program which does not 
require State action but is of sufficient national interest to warrant 
indication of State intent, the State may be required to provide such 
notification within a specified time frame.
    (c) Evaluation changes. (1) Special and periodic evaluations of a 
State program by OSHA in cooperation with the State may show that some 
portion of a

[[Page 124]]

State plan has an adverse impact on the effectiveness of the State 
program and accordingly requires modification to the State's underlying 
legislation, regulations, policy or procedures as an evaluation change. 
For example, OSHA could find that additional legislative or regulatory 
authority may be necessary to effectively pursue the State's right of 
entry into workplaces, or to assure various employer rights.
    (2) OSHA shall advise the State of any evaluation findings that 
require a change to the State plan and the reasons supporting this 
decision. This notification shall also contain a date by which the State 
must accomplish this change and submit either the change supplement or a 
timetable for its accomplishment and interim steps to assure continued 
program effectiveness, documentation of adoption of a program component 
identical to the Federal program component, or, as explained in 
paragraph (c)(5) of this section, a statement demonstrating why a 
program change is not necessary.
    (3) If the State adopts a program component which differs from a 
corresponding Federal program component, the State shall submit one copy 
of a required supplement within 60 days of adoption of the change. The 
supplement shall contain a copy of the relevant legislation, regulation, 
policy or procedure and documentation on how the change maintains the 
``at least as effective as'' status of the plan.
    (4) If the State adopts a program component identical to a Federal 
program component, submission of a supplement is not required. However, 
the State shall provide documentation that it has adopted the change, 
such as the cover page of an implementing directive or a notice of 
promulgation, within 60 days of adoption of the change and shall retain 
all other documentation within the State available for review upon 
request.
    (5) The State may demonstrate why a program change is not necessary 
because the State program is meeting the requirements for an ``at least 
as effective'' program. Such submission will require review and approval 
as set forth in Sec. 1953.6.
    (d) State-initiated changes. (1) A State-initiated change is any 
change to the State plan which is undertaken at a State's option and is 
not necessitated by Federal requirements. State-initiated changes may 
include legislative, regulatory, administrative, policy or procedural 
changes which impact on the effectiveness of the State program.
    (2) A State-initiated change supplement is required whenever the 
State takes an action not otherwise covered by this part that would 
impact on the effectiveness of the State program. The State shall notify 
OSHA as soon as it becomes aware of any change which could affect the 
State's ability to meet the approval criteria in parts 1902 and 1956 of 
this chapter, e.g., changes to the State's legislation, and submit a 
supplement within 60 days. Other State initiated supplements must be 
submitted within 60 days after the change occurred. The State supplement 
shall contain a copy of the relevant legislation, regulation, policy or 
procedure and documentation on how the change maintains the ``at least 
as effective as'' status of the plan. If the State fails to notify OSHA 
of the change or fails to submit the required supplement within the 
specified time period, OSHA shall notify the State that a supplement is 
required and set a time period for submission of the supplement, 
generally not to exceed 30 days.