Section 261.196.12. Contents, style, and form of rule.

       196.12(1) Contents. Each rule adopted by the department shall contain the text of the rule and, in addition:

        a.           The date the department adopted the rule.

        b.           A brief explanation of the principal reasons for the rule-making action if the reasons are required by 1998 Iowa Acts, chapter 1202, section 8, or the department in its discretion decides to include the reasons.

        c.           A reference to all rules repealed, amended, or suspended by the rule.

        d.           A reference to the specific statutory or other authority authorizing adoption of the rule.

        e.           Any findings required by any provision of law as a prerequisite to adoption or effectiveness of the rule.

        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 the reasons are required by 1998 Iowa Acts, chapter 1202, section 8, or the department in its discretion decides to include the reasons.

        g.           The effective date of the rule.

       196.12(2) Documents incorporated 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 department proposed or adopted rule would be unduly cumbersome, expensive, or otherwise inexpedient. The reference in the department 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 the agency of the United States, this state, another state, or the organization, association, or persons, originally issuing that matter. The department shall retain permanently a copy of any materials incorporated by reference in a rule of the department.

       196.12(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 shall provide a copy of that full text at actual cost upon request and shall make copies of the full text available for review either electronically or at the state law library.

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.

       196.12(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.