ARC 7807C
INSPECTIONS AND APPEALS DEPARTMENT[481]
Adopted and Filed
Rulemaking related to declaratory orders
The Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing hereby rescinds Chapter 3, “Declaratory Orders,” Iowa Administrative Code, and adopts a new chapter with the same title.
Legal Authority for Rulemaking
This rulemaking is adopted under the authority provided in Iowa Code section 17A.9.
State or Federal Law Implemented
This rulemaking implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code section 17A.9; 2023 Iowa Acts, Senate File 514; and Executive Order 10 (January 10, 2023).
Purpose and Summary
This rulemaking repromulgates Chapter 3, “Declaratory Orders,” and implements Iowa Code section 17A.9 and 2023 Iowa Acts, Senate File 514, in accordance with the goals and directives of Executive Order 10 (January 10, 2023). Iowa Code section 17A.9 requires agencies to “adopt rules that provide for the form, contents, and filing of petitions for declaratory orders, the procedural rights of persons in relation to the petitions, and the disposition of the petitions. The rules must describe the classes of circumstances in which the agency will not issue a declaratory order and must be consistent with the public interest and with the general policy of the chapter to facilitate and encourage agency issuance of reliable advice.”
The rules provide standard procedures governing the filing of and the Department’s response to petitions for declaratory orders and are intended to be applicable to any division, board, or commission within the Department that has its own rulemaking authority and has not adopted its own rules governing declaratory orders.
Public Comment and Changes to Rulemaking
Notice of Intended Action for this rulemaking was published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin on February 21, 2024, as ARC 7646C. Public hearings were held on March 18 and 20, 2024, at 11:20 a.m.	at 6200 Park Avenue, Suite 100, Des Moines, Iowa. No one attended the public hearings. No public comments were received. No changes from the Notice have been made.
Adoption of Rulemaking
This rulemaking was adopted by the Department on March 27, 2024.
Fiscal Impact
This rulemaking has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa.
Jobs Impact
After analysis and review of this rulemaking, no impact on jobs has been found.
Waivers
Any person who believes that the application of the discretionary provisions of this rulemaking would result in hardship or injustice to that person may petition the Department for a waiver of the discretionary provisions, if any, pursuant to 481—Chapter 6.
Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee
The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rulemaking by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rulemaking at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee’s meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).
Effective Date
This rulemaking will become effective on May 22, 2024.
The following rulemaking action is adopted:
	Item 1. Rescind 481—Chapter 3 and adopt the following new chapter in lieu thereof:
CHAPTER 3
DECLARATORY ORDERS
The department of inspections, appeals, and licensing adopts, with the following exceptions and amendments, the Uniform Rules on Agency Procedure related to declaratory orders, which are published at www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/Rules/Current/UniformRules.pdf on the Iowa general assembly’s website. These rules are applicable to any division, board, or commission under the administrative authority of the department pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 10A, unless a division, board, or commission has separate rulemaking authority and has adopted rules governing declaratory orders. In lieu of the words “(designate agency)” within any uniform rule, insert the name of the department or specific board or division within the department where the petition for declaratory order is directed, as applicable. In lieu of the words “(designate office)”, insert the current location of the department, board, or division within the department, as applicable.
481—3.1(17A) Petition for declaratory order. In lieu of the words “(AGENCY NAME)”, the heading on the petition form should read:
BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTIONS, APPEALS, AND LICENSING
[or the specific board or division within the department where the petition is directed]
481—3.2(17A) Notice of petition. In lieu of the words “___ days (15 or less)”, insert “15 days”.
481—3.3(17A) Intervention.
	3.3(1) In lieu of the words “within ___ days”, insert “within 15 days”. Strike the words “(after time for notice under X.2(17A))”. In lieu of the number “X.8(17A)”, insert “rule 481—3.8(17A)”.
In lieu of the words “(AGENCY NAME)”, the heading on the petition form should read:
BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTIONS, APPEALS, AND LICENSING
[or the specific board or division within the department where the petition is directed]
481—3.5(17A) Inquiries. In lieu of the words “(designate official by full title and address)”, insert “to the department or applicable division, board, or commission as provided on the department’s website”.
481—3.6(17A) Service and filing of petitions and other papers.
	3.6(2) In lieu of the words “(specify office and address)”, insert the current address of the department, board, or division within the department, as applicable.
	3.6(3) In lieu of the words “(uniform rule on contested cases X.12(17A))”, insert “rule 481—10.12(17A), except that the filing will be delivered to the department, board, or division at its current location”.
481—3.8(17A) Action on petition. Replace all uniform rule text with “Action on the petition will be taken in accordance with Iowa Code section 17A.9(5).”
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code chapter 17A.
[Filed 3/27/24, effective 5/22/24]
[Published 4/17/24]
Editor’s Note: For replacement pages for IAC, see IAC Supplement 4/17/24.