CHAPTER 1
PURPOSE AND FUNCTION
[Prior to 9/24/86 see Industrial Commissioner[500]]
[Prior to 1/29/97 see Industrial Services Division[343]]
[Prior to 7/29/98 see Industrial Services Division[873]Ch 1]
876—1.1(86,17A) Purpose and function. The function of the division of workers’ compensation of the department of workforce development is to adjudicate the rights and duties of persons provided for in Iowa Code chapters 85, 85A, 85B, 86, and 87 and these rules, and to administer and enforce the provisions of chapters 85, 85A, 85B, 86, and 87 and these rules. The indicated chapters provide for the rights and duties of persons injured in employment and the responsible employers and insurance carriers. The chapters are commonly referred to as the workers’ compensation chapters of the Iowa Code. The Iowa workers’ compensation commissioner is the executive head of the division of workers’ compensation who serves a six-year term, appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate. Two major sections within the division, compliance and adjudication, carry out the purpose of the division as set out by the laws of this state.
The compliance section prepares and distributes literature concerning the workers’ compensation law, rates, judicial decisions, and statistics; responds to written and oral inquiries regarding the law; conducts conferences and training sessions; provides appropriate forms for use in matters under the jurisdiction of the division; establishes and monitors files arising from claims of work-related injuries and illness; and informs parties to a claim of their rights and responsibilities.
The adjudication section determines, by adjudicative means, the rights and liabilities of parties in a disputed claim by conducting hearings and rendering decisions; approving settlements in accordance with the statutes; and conducting appeals within the division.
876—1.2(86,17A) Location. Interested persons may contact the Iowa Workers’ Compensation Commissioner, 1000 East Grand Avenue (mailing address), 150 Des Moines Street (physical location), Des Moines, Iowa 50319; telephone (515)725-4120 or 1-800-645-4583. The fax number is (515)281-6501. The website address is www.iowaworkforce.org/wc.
[ARC 3528C, IAB 12/20/17, effective 1/24/18]
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code sections 17A.3(1)“a” and “b” and 84A.5.
[Emergency filed and effective 9/19/75—published 10/6/75]
[Filed 11/17/75, Notice 10/6/75—published 12/1/75, effective 1/5/76]
[Filed emergency 6/18/82—published 7/7/82, effective 7/1/82]
[Filed emergency 6/26/86—published 7/16/86, effective 7/1/86]
[Filed emergency 8/25/86—published 9/10/86, effective 8/25/86]1
[Editorially transferred from [500] to [343], IAC Supp. 9/24/86, see IAB 7/16/86]
[Filed emergency 9/11/87—published 10/7/87, effective 9/11/87]
[Filed 8/26/94, Notice 7/20/94—published 9/14/94, effective 10/19/94]
[Filed 1/10/97, Notice 12/4/96—published 1/29/97, effective 3/5/97]
[Filed 5/1/98, Notice 3/25/98—published 5/20/98, effective 6/24/98]
[Filed emergency 7/1/98—published 7/29/98, effective 7/1/98]
[Filed 9/4/98, Notice 7/29/98—published 9/23/98, effective 10/28/98]
[Filed 5/12/00, Notice 4/5/00—published 5/31/00, effective 7/5/00]
[Filed 2/15/02, Notice 1/9/02—published 3/6/02, effective 4/10/02]
[Filed ARC 3528C (Notice ARC 3414C, IAB 10/25/17), IAB 12/20/17, effective 1/24/18]
1	See IAB Industrial Services, Division of [343]