# Rules of Practice
> **US Department of Agriculture** · Final rule. · Published 1996-03-21 · Effective 1996-04-22 · 61 FR 11501
## Document
- **Document number:** 96-6693
- **Category:** other
- **Sub-agency:** US Department of Agriculture
- **Federal Register citation:** 61 FR 11501
- **CFR reference:** 7 CFR 1
- **Publication date:** 1996-03-21
- **Effective date:** 1996-04-22
## Abstract

We are amending the Rules of Practice Governing Formal Adjudicatory Proceedings Instituted by the Secretary Under Various Statutes and the Rules of Practice Under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. This final rule provides that the adjudication, under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, of whether an individual is ``responsibly connected'' with a particular commission merchant, dealer, or broker will be joined with any related disciplinary proceedings against the same commission merchant, dealer, or broker; and that any adjudications of such status will be made by Administrative Law Judges of the Department of Agriculture. USDA believes that the procedures, by reducing the incidence of multiple hearings, will facilitate speedy enforcement of the PACA and will result in savings in employee time and travel expense. They will also abolish the need for AMS to employ individuals to act as presiding officers at responsibly connected proceedings. In 1994, presiding officers were paid $26,866, a large portion of which would be saved under the new regulation.

## Source
- [Federal Register document](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/1996/03/21/96-6693/rules-of-practice)
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