The Rule Making Process
Administrative rules are adopted and promulgated to implement
the Code of Iowa, the statutes passed by the Iowa legislature and signed
by the Governor. Rule-making authority is delegated to various departments
and agencies in the Iowa Code and in various laws passed each year. The
philosophy and mechanics of the Iowa rule-making process are found in Iowa
Code chapter 17A, with additional provisions in Iowa Code chapter 2B, and
Iowa Code sections 3.6, 7.17, and 25B.6. The Iowa Dental Board, the “board,”
adopts rules and establishes standards for practitioners pursuant to its
authority under Iowa Code section 147.76 and Iowa Code section 153.33. The
dental hygiene committee of the board also makes recommendations for rules
regarding the practice, discipline, education, examination, and licensure
of dental hygienists pursuant to Iowa Code section 153.33A. Rules adopted
by the board are contained at Iowa Administrative Code 650-Chapters 1 through
51. Before the board adopts any rules, the board discusses
the proposed rule changes at a public board meeting. If the board decides
to initiate rulemaking, the proposed rules or amendments are first published
in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin as a Notice of Intended Action. After
publication as notice, any interested person then has at least 20 days in
which to provide written comments to the board on the proposed rules or
amendments. The board will often schedule a public hearing on proposed rules
as well. At the hearing, persons are again given an opportunity to present
comments on proposed new rules or amendments. The board considers all comments
received during the notice period before proceeding with the rulemaking.
Thirty-five days after the rules or amendments are published
as a Notice of Intended Action, the rules or amendments are eligible for
adoption. The rules are then placed on the agenda and scheduled for discussion
at a public board meeting. The board can then adopt the proposed rules as
originally noticed, adopt the rules with modifications based on comments
received or for further clarification, or terminate the rulemaking action.
If the board votes to adopt the rules, the final version is published in
the Iowa Administrative Bulletin. Adopted rules are normally effective 35
days after publication, or at a later date specified in the rule. The Administrative Rules Review Committee (ARRC) of the
Iowa General Assembly provides legislative oversight during the rulemaking
process by reviewing agency rule-making actions. The ARRC is a bipartisan
joint committee of the General Assembly. The Agency Rules Administrator is the official responsible
for the administration of the agency rule-making process. If you have any
questions about current or pending agency rules for the Dental Board, contact the agency rules administrator: In writing: Via telephone at (515) 281-0997 Via e-mail at Jennifer.Hart@Iowa.gov
Jennifer Hart, Agency Rules Administrator
Iowa Dental Board
400 SW 8th Street, Suite D
Des Moines, IA 50309-4687
Via fax at (515) 281-7969