495—31.12(17A) Contents, style, and form of rules.

1. 31.12(1)  Contents. Each rule making by the agency shall contain the text of each rule and, in addition:

   1. a. The date the agency adopted the rule;
   2. b. A brief explanation of the principal reasons for the rule-making action if such reasons are required by Iowa Code section 17A.4A(1)“b,” or the agency 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 c. A reference to all rules repealed, amended, or suspended by the rule;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. Effective July 1, 1999, if the agency has not included the subject matter of the proposed rule in a separate rule listing categories of rules for which no waiver provision will be included, 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 waivers or special exceptions provided in the rule if such reasons are required by Iowa Code section 17A.4A(1)“b,” or the agency in its discretion decides to include such reasons; and
   7. g. The effective date of the rule.
2. 31.12(2)  Incorporation by reference. The agency may incorporate by reference in a proposed or adopted rule, and without causing publication of the incorporated material in full, all or any part of a code, standard, rule, or other matter if the agency finds that the incorporation of its text in the agency proposed or adopted rule would be unduly cumbersome, expensive, or otherwise inexpedient. The reference in the agency proposed or adopted rule shall fully and precisely identify the incorporated material by location, title, citation, date, and edition, if any; and may state that the proposed or adopted rule includes any later amendments or editions of the proposed material that are binding on the agency by state or federal law or regulation. The agency may incorporate such material by reference in a proposed or adopted rule if copies are readily available to the public at the agency’s headquarters. The agency shall retain permanently a copy of materials that are incorporated by reference in a rule. Copies of incorporated material may be obtained at cost from the agency.

3. 31.12(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 agency 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 agency. The agency will provide a copy of that full text at actual cost upon request and shall ensure that copies of the full text are available for review at the state law library and may make the standards available electronically.

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

4. 31.12(4)  Style and form. In preparing its rules, the agency shall follow the uniform numbering system, form, and style prescribed by the administrative rules coordinator.