605—15.4(29C) Operational plan and procedures.

1. 15.4(1)  Each state agency or commission that applies to access the system will develop and maintain an operational plan and procedures. The operational plan and procedures will contain the following:

   1. a. Introductory paragraphs that provide a summary of, the purpose of, and the authorities for the operational plan and procedures document.
   2. b. A description of the system and a listing of the types of imminent emergency alerts and public safety-related information that will be communicated to the public via the system.
   3. c. The contact information for the individual who will function as the state agency’s or commission’s administrator for the system and who will be the primary contact point for the department and system vendor.
   4. d. A listing of those positions or individuals that are authorized to initiate emergency alerts and mass notification messages via the system. These individuals shall complete any federally specified training needed to access any federal messaging systems that are utilized by the statewide system.
   5. e. A listing of those positions or individuals that are authorized to conduct system database maintenance.
   6. f. The detailed process by which emergency alerts or mass notification messages will be developed, reviewed, and authorized for dissemination.
   7. g. A listing by the commission of any memorandums of understanding completed with neighboring counties for the purpose of allowing cross-border emergency alerts or mass notification messaging when an incident will impact the public outside the incident county within 30 minutes and will cause the public to be endangered if action is not taken by the public. Copies of such agreements shall be included within the operational plan and procedures document.
   8. h. A glossary of definitions for message types that can be issued by the system.
2. 15.4(2)  The state agency or commission will complete a memorandum of agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) program management office for the purpose of accessing IPAWS. A copy of the approved agreement will be included within the operational plan and procedures document.
3. 15.4(3)  The state agency or commission will complete a user agreement with the department. The user agreement specifies that, by accessing the system, users may be exposed to information deemed confidential under Iowa Code chapter 22. A copy of the user agreement will be included within the operational plan and procedures document.
4. 15.4(4)  The department has developed an operational plan and procedures template to be used by all state agencies and commissions making application to access the system. All operational plans and procedures developed by the state agencies or commissions and submitted for approval should substantially conform to this template.

[ARC 9255C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]