111—3.12(17A) Contents, style, and form of rule.

1. 3.12(1)  Contents. Each rule adopted by the commission shall contain the text of the rule and, in addition:

   1. a. The date the commission adopted the rule.
   2. b. A brief explanation of the principal reasons for rule-making action if such reasons are required by 1998 Iowa Acts, chapter 1202, section 8, or the department in its discretion decides to include such reasons.
   3. c. A reference to all rules repealed, amended, or suspended by the rule.
   4. d. A reference to the specific statutory or other authority authorizing adoption of the rule.
   5. e. Any findings required by any provision of law as a prerequisite to adoption or effectiveness of the rule.
   6. f. A brief explanation of the principal reasons for the failure to provide for waivers to the rule if no waiver provision is included and a brief explanation of any waiver or special exceptions provided in the rule if such reasons are required by 1998 Iowa Acts, chapter 1202, section 8, or the department in its discretion decides to include such reasons.
   7. g. The effective date of the rule.

2. 3.12(2)  Incorporation by reference. The department may incorporate by reference in a proposed or adopted rule, and without causing publication of the incorporated matter in full, all or any part of a code, standard, rule, or other matter if the department finds that the incorporation of its text in the proposed or adopted rule would be unduly cumbersome, expensive or otherwise inexpedient. The reference in the proposed or adopted rule shall fully and precisely identify the incorporated matter by location, title, citation, date, and edition, if any; shall briefly indicate the precise subject and the general contents of the incorporated matter; and shall state that the proposed or adopted rule does not include any later amendments or editions of the incorporated matter. The department may incorporate such matter by reference in a proposed or adopted rule only if the department makes copies of it readily available to the public. The rule shall state how and where copies of the incorporated matter may be obtained at cost from this department, and how and where copies may be obtained from an agency of the United States, this state, another state, or the organization, association or persons originally issuing the matter. The department shall retain permanently a copy of any materials incorporated by reference in a rule of the department.

   If the department adopts standards by reference to another publication, it shall provide a copy of the publication containing the standards to the administrative rules coordinator for deposit in the state law library and may make the standards available electronically.

3. 3.12(3)  References to materials not published in full. When the administrative code editor decides to omit the full text of a proposed or adopted rule because publication of the full text would be unduly cumbersome, expensive or otherwise inexpedient, the department shall prepare and submit to the administrative code editor for inclusion in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin and Iowa Administrative Code a summary statement describing the specific subject matter of the omitted material. This summary statement shall include the title and a brief description sufficient to inform the public of the specific nature and subject matter of the proposed or adopted rules, and of significant issues involved in these rules. The summary statement shall also describe how a copy of the full text of the proposed or adopted rule, including any unpublished matter and any matter incorporated by reference, may be obtained from the department. The department will provide a copy of the full text (at actual cost) upon request and shall make copies of the full text available for review at the state law library and may make the standards available electronically.

   At the request of the administrative code editor, the department shall provide a proposed statement explaining why publication of the full text would be unduly cumbersome, expensive or otherwise inexpedient.

   To facilitate transcription into alternative media, the complete text of the proposed rule shall be published in the Notice of Intended Action whenever possible.

4. 3.12(4)  Style and form. In preparing its rules, the department shall follow the uniform numbering system, form, and style prescribed by the administrative rules coordinator.

[ARC 0461C, IAB 11/28/12, effective 1/2/13]