American Samoa Code Annotated (Code) Section 4.1002 requires each ASG agency to "adopt rules of practice setting forth the nature and requirements of all formal and informal procedures available, including a description of all forms and instructions used by the agency" and to "adopt rules stating the general course and method of its operations and the methods whereby the public may obtain information or make submissions or requests." 

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Section 4.1003 of the Code then requires the Secretary of American Samoa to compile, index, and publish all effective rules adopted by each agency at least once every two years in an official reporter known as the American Samoa Administrative Code (Administrative Code). The last official compilation of the Administrative Code was published in 1982, well over 41 years ago.

 

In 2019, an Executive Order was issued to remedy this situation and the Comprehensive Administrative Rule Reform (CARR) Project was launched to not only update the Administrative Code, but to simplify the rule making process by assisting ASG agencies in developing their rules with an overall emphasis on alleviating the unnecessary public costs and regulatory burdens placed on the People of American Samoa. To do so, each department was ordered to identify rules that were outdated, unnecessary or ineffective, or quite simply inconsistent with the law and work with the Rule Reform Panel, an advisory body, to revise, amend, or repeal those rules. 

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The CARR Project consists of two distinct courses of action. First, to evaluate existing rules and then assist departments to revise and/or amend their Rules. Secondly, to make these Rules available publicly in a convenient and accessible manner in accordance with local law.