Section 721.8.4. Agency consideration.

       8.4(1) Within 30 days after the filing of a petition, the agency must submit a copy of the petition and any accompanying brief to the administrative rules coordinator and to the administrative rules review committee. Upon request by petitioner in the petition, the agency must schedule a brief and informal meeting between the petitioner and the agency, a member of the agency, or a member of the staff of the agency, to discuss the petition. The agency may request the petitioner to submit additional information or argument concerning the petition. The agency may also solicit comments from any person on the substance of the petition. Also, comments on the substance of the petition may be submitted to the agency by any person.

       8.4(2) Within 90 days after the filing of the petition, or within any longer period agreed to by the petitioner, the agency must, in writing, deny the petition, and notify petitioner of its action and the specific grounds for the denial, or grant the petition and notify petitioner that it has instituted rule-making proceedings on the subject of the petition. Petitioner shall be deemed notified of the denial or grant of the petition on the date when the agency mails or delivers the required notification to petitioner.

       8.4(3) Denial of a petition because it does not substantially conform to the required form does not preclude the filing of a new petition on the same subject that seeks to eliminate the grounds for the agency’s rejection of the petition.