Section 111.3.15. Effectiveness of rules prior to publication.

       3.15(1) Grounds. The commission may make a rule effective after its filing at any stated time prior to 35 days after its indexing and publication in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin if it finds that a statute so provides, the rule confers a benefit or removes a restriction on some segment of the public, or that the effective date of the rule is necessary to avoid imminent peril to the public health, safety, or welfare. The department shall incorporate the required findings and a brief statement of its supporting reasons in each rule adopted in reliance upon this subrule.

       3.15(2) Special notice. When the commission makes a rule effective prior to its indexing and publication in reliance upon the provisions of Iowa Code section 17A.5(2)“b”(3), the department shall employ all reasonable efforts to make its contents known to the persons who may be affected by that rule prior to the rule’s indexing and publication. The term “all reasonable efforts” requires the department to employ the most effective and prompt means of notice rationally calculated to inform potentially affected parties of the effectiveness of the rule that is justified and practical under the circumstances considering the various alternatives available for this purpose, the comparative costs to the department of utilizing each of those alternatives, and the harm suffered by affected persons from any lack of notice concerning the contents of the rule prior to its indexing and publication. The means that may be used for providing notice of rules prior to their indexing and publication include, but are not limited to, any one or more of the following means: radio, newspaper, television, signs, mail, telephone, personal notice or electronic means.

A rule made effective prior to its indexing and publication in reliance upon the provisions of Iowa Code section 17A.5(2)“b”(3) shall include in that rule a statement describing the reasonable efforts that will be used to comply with the requirements of subrule 3.15(2).