Oklahoma Administrative Code
Title 655 - Secretary of State
Chapter 10 - Administrative Rules on Rulemaking
Subchapter 7 - Preparation of Documents
Part 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 655:10-7-2 - Typing and word processing requirements

Universal Citation: OK Admin Code 655:10-7-2

Current through Vol. 42, No. 1, September 16, 2024

When preparing rules and documents that will be submitted to the OAR for publication in the Register, agencies shall comply with each of the following typing requirements and restrictions:

(1) Requirements.

(A) Use word processing software that is approved by the OAR as compatible with the software used for processing documents into the OAR's databases. If an agency does not know if its software meets this requirement, the agency must contact the Office of Administrative Rules. [See also 655:10-9-1 (relating to electronic copies)]

(B) Set paper size at 81/2 by 11 inches. Use plain white medium bond paper.

(C) Set the page settings for printing on one side of the page only.

(D) Set left, right, and top margins at one inch. Set bottom margin at .5 inch (to allow for page numbering, as described in 655:10-7-4 ).

(E) Set the font size to 11 or 12.

(F) Type in the conventional uppercase and lowercase format (not all capital letters or "small caps"), unless otherwise specifically required in this Chapter (e.g., centered Title, Chapter, Subchapter, Part headings are typed in uppercase letters).

(G) Set the line spacing to one.

(H) Fasten the document together with a paper clip.

(2) Restrictions.

(A) Underscoring is reserved for the purpose of showing new language in rules. Do not underscore letters, numbers, words, or symbols except as expressly reserved by this subparagraph. [See also 655:10-5-2 and 655:10-5-3 (relating to identifying language in new and amended rules)] For example, when typing the title of a book or other publication which is traditionally underscored, use some method other than underscoring or italicization to identify the title, such as capitalization or quotation marks.

(B) Strikeouts are reserved for the purpose of showing deleted or revoked language in existing rules. Do not strikeout letters, numbers, words, or symbols except as expressly reserved by this subparagraph. [See also 655:10-5-3 and 655:10-5-4 (relating to identifying language in amended and revoked rules)]

(C) Italics may not be used in rules except to identify language quoted from statutes, constitution, or other legal instruments. Do not italicize letters, numbers, words, or symbols except as expressly reserved by this subparagraph. [See also 655:10-5-12 (relating to quoting from legal instruments)]

(D) Do not use letterhead stationery.

(E) Do not fold any pages of the document.

(F) Do not staple any pages of the document.

(G) Do not bind the document together in any manner other than by paper clip.

(H) Do not punch holes in any pages of the document.

(I) Do not use carbon paper.

(J) Do not handwrite any portion of the document except:
(i) the signature or signatures and date required on attestations;

(ii) the signature and date required on a transmittal sheet [see 655:10-7-6 ]; and

(iii) the signatures and any other necessary handwriting on the Governor's approval of emergency or preemptive rules, a resolution by the Legislature disapproving rules, or an executive order.

(K) Do not turn on line hyphenation. Do not force hyphenation to phonetically split words at the ends of lines.

(L) Do not use tables or columns within the text of a Section unless absolutely necessary [see 655:10-3-37 (relating to graphics in rules)]. Do not use tables or columns in preambles or notice documents. The format of tables and columns is not retained (except in scanned Appendices) when a document is moved to the database and published in the Register and Code.

(M) Do not center text within Sections, preambles, or notice documents. The centering is not retained (except in Appendices) when a document is moved to the database and published in the Register and Code.

(N) When using a fraction, formula, or equation (except in scanned Appendices), do not use underscoring for a division line. The underscoring will be lost when amendatory language is removed from Sections. Instead, use the division sign (/), the words "divided by," or a slash. For example:
(i) [(y - .8) + (z - 1.2)] / (y + z)

(ii) [(y - .8) + (z - 1.2)] divided by (y + z)

(iii) [(y - .8) + (z - 1.2)] / (y + z)

(O) Do not draw boxes around, or lines above, below, or around text (except if needed in Appendices).

(P) Do not use unusual word processing features, such as small caps, styles, hard back tabs, index codes, etc. (except if needed in Appendices).

(Q) Do not change font size (except superscript and subscript) or font style (except italics and bold) in a document. Font changes, other than those in Appendices, which are scanned, are not retained when the document is moved to the database and published in the Register and Code.

(R) Do not add extra horizontal spacing (blank lines), except in Appendices or as otherwise specifically required in this Chapter. If used (other than in Appendices), the extra spacing will not be retained when the document is moved to and published in the Register and Code.

(S) Do not use dot leaders (except if needed in Appendices). If used (other than in scanned Appendices), the dot leaders will not be retained when moved to and published in the Register and Code.

(T) Do not include extraneous information, such as information sometimes added to identify the electronic location of the document (e.g., file name, path, date, drafter's initials, etc.)

Amended at 9 Ok Reg 2983, eff 7-13-92; Amended at 15 Ok Reg 3353, eff 7-15-98; Amended at 21 Ok Reg 2476, eff 7-1-04

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Oklahoma may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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