THEODORE R. McKELDIN, GOVERNOR                       59

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22.  Rule-making power, (a) In addition to such other powers and
duties as may be conferred upon him by law, the Commissioner of
Labor and Industry shall within fifteen days after the receipt from
the Board of proposed rules and regulations, or amendments, modi-
fications or repeals of existing rules and regulations, either accept,
adopt, and issue such rules and regulations, amendments, modifica-
tions, or repeals, or shall refer them back to the Board for further
consideration and revision.

(b) In case the proposed rules and regulations submitted by the
Board are identical with any rules or regulations promulgated by any
other department, board or public agency of this State, or identical
with standards approved by any national organization or association
organized or conducted in whole or in part for the purpose of develop-
ing standards for the protection of the life-, healthy or safety of em-
ployees, the Commissioner of Labor and Industry may adopt such
standards, rules or regulations by reference, without setting forth
the provisions of such standards, rules or regulations, provided
copies of such standards, rules or regulations so adopted by reference
are filed in accordance with this subsection. In case the Commis-
sioner of Labor and Industry adopts standards, rules, or regulations
by reference, he shall keep on file in his office at least three copies
thereof, available for public use, inspection, and examination. Not-
withstanding the provisions- of Section 2k, regarding publications
of rules and regulations or amendments thereof, the standards
adopted by reference need not be published, but the Commissioner of