17A.3  Public information — adoption of rules — availability of rules and orders.
  1.  In addition to other requirements imposed by Constitution or statute, each agency shall:
  a.  Adopt as a rule a description of the organization of the agency which states the general course and method of its operations, the administrative subdivisions of the agency and the programs implemented by each of them, a statement of the mission of the agency, and the methods by which and location where the public may obtain information or make submissions or requests.
  b.  Adopt rules of practice setting forth the nature and requirements of all formal and informal procedures available to the public, including a description of all forms and instructions that are to be used by the public in dealing with the agency.
  c.  As soon as feasible and to the extent practicable, adopt rules, in addition to those otherwise required by this chapter, embodying appropriate standards, principles, and procedural safeguards that the agency will apply to the law it administers.
  d.  Make available for public inspection all rules, and make available for public inspection and index by subject, all other written statements of law or policy, or interpretations formulated, adopted, or used by the agency in the discharge of its functions. Except as otherwise required by Constitution or statute, or in the use of discovery under the Iowa rules of civil procedure or in criminal cases, an agency shall not be required to make available for public inspection those portions of its staff manuals, instructions, or other statements excluded from the definition of “rule” by section 17A.2, subsection 11, paragraph “f”.
  e.  Make available for public inspection and index by name and subject all final orders, decisions, and opinions:  Provided that to the extent required to prevent a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy or trade secrets, an agency shall delete identifying details when it makes available for public inspection any final order, decision, or opinion; however, in each case the justification for the deletion shall be explained fully in writing.
  2.  No agency rule or other written statement of law or policy, or interpretation, order, decision, or opinion is valid or effective against any person or party, nor shall it be invoked by the agency for any purpose, until it has been made available for public inspection and indexed as required by subsection 1, paragraphs “d” and “e”. This provision is not applicable in favor of any person or party who has actual timely knowledge thereof and the burden of proving such knowledge shall be on the agency.
[C75, 77, 79, 81, §17A.3]
86 Acts, ch 1245, §2037; 98 Acts, ch 1202, §7, 46