Title I, STATE SOVEREIGNTY AND MANAGEMENT (Ch. 1 - 38D)

1. As used in this section , unless the context otherwise requires: a. “Mediation” means a process in which an impartial person attempts to facilitate the resolution of a dispute by promoting voluntary agreement of the parties to the dispute. Mediation shall be deemed to commence…

All provisions of this chapter applicable to employees described in section 20.3, subsection 11 , shall be applicable on the same terms and to the same degree to any transit employee if it is determined by the director of the department of transportation, upon written confirmatio…

1. All moneys paid in advance by the board and subsequently taxed as a cost to a party or parties pursuant to section 20.6, subsection 6 , and section 20.11, subsection 3 , shall, when reimbursed by the party or parties taxed under those sections, be retained by the board as appr…

Notwithstanding chapter 17A , in a petition for judicial review of a decision of the board in a contested case under this chapter , the opposing party shall be named the respondent, and the board shall not be named as a respondent. Judicial review of agency action by the board un…

The following public employees shall be excluded from the provisions of this chapter : 1. Elected officials and persons appointed to fill vacancies in elective offices, and members of any board or commission. 2. Representatives of a public employer, including the administrative o…

The board shall: 1. Administer the provisions of this chapter and delegate the powers and duties of the board to persons employed by the board, as appropriate. 2. Collect, for public employers other than the state and its boards, commissions, departments, and agencies, data and c…

Public employers shall have, in addition to all powers, duties, and rights established by constitutional provision, statute, ordinance, charter, or special act, the exclusive power, duty, and the right to: 1. Direct the work of its public employees. 2. Hire, evaluate, promote, de…

Public employees shall have the right to: 1. Organize, or form, join, or assist any employee organization. 2. Negotiate collectively through representatives of their own choosing. 3. Engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid…

1. For negotiations regarding a bargaining unit with at least thirty percent of members who are public safety employees, the public employer and the employee organization shall meet at reasonable times, including meetings reasonably in advance of the public employer’s budget-maki…

This chapter seeks to assure, through a requirement of open meetings of governmental bodies, that the basis and rationale of governmental decisions, as well as those decisions themselves, are easily accessible to the people. Ambiguity in the construction or application of this ch…

The authority which appoints members of governmental bodies shall provide the members with information about this chapter and chapter 22 . The appropriate commissioner of elections shall provide that information to members of elected governmental bodies. 89 Acts, ch 73, §2

This chapter applies to nonprofit corporations which are defined as governmental bodies subject to section 21.2, subsection 1 , paragraph “f” , only when the meetings conducted by the nonprofit corporations relate to the conduct of pari-mutuel racing and wagering pursuant to chap…

1. A newly elected or appointed public official who is a member of a governmental body shall complete a course of training of not less than one and not more than two hours regarding the responsibilities of the governmental body and the governmental body’s members under this chapt…

As used in this chapter : 1. “Governmental body” means: a. A board, council, commission, or other governing body expressly created by the statutes of this state or by executive order. b. A board, council, commission, or other governing body of a political subdivision or tax-suppo…

1. Meetings of governmental bodies shall be preceded by public notice as provided in section 21.4 and shall be held in open session unless closed sessions are expressly permitted by law. Except as provided in section 21.5 , all actions and discussions at meetings of governmental …

1. a. Except as provided in subsection 3 , a governmental body shall give notice of the time, date, and place of each meeting including a reconvened meeting of the governmental body, and the tentative agenda of the meeting, in a manner reasonably calculated to apprise the public …

1. A governmental body may hold a closed session only by affirmative public vote of either two-thirds of the members of the body or all of the members present at the meeting. A governmental body may hold a closed session only to the extent a closed session is necessary for any of…

1. The remedies provided by this section against state governmental bodies shall be in addition to those provided by section 17A.19 . Any aggrieved person, taxpayer to, or citizen of, the state of Iowa, or the attorney general or county attorney, may seek judicial enforcement of …

The public may use cameras or recording devices at any open session. Nothing in this chapter shall prevent a governmental body from making and enforcing reasonable rules for the conduct of its meetings to assure those meetings are orderly, and free from interference or interrupti…

1. A governmental body shall provide for hybrid meetings, teleconference participation, virtual meetings, remote participation, and other hybrid options for the members of the governmental body to participate in official meetings. A governmental body conducting a meeting pursuant…

A meeting of a governmental body to discuss strategy in matters relating to employment conditions of employees of the governmental body who are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement under chapter 20 is exempt from this chapter . For the purpose of this section , “emplo…

As used in this chapter : 1. “Government body” means this state, or any county, city, township, school corporation, political subdivision, tax-supported district, nonprofit corporation other than a fair conducting a fair event as provided in chapter 174 , whose facilities or inde…

1. The rights and remedies provided by this section are in addition to any rights and remedies provided by section 17A.19 . Any aggrieved person, any taxpayer to or citizen of the state of Iowa, or the attorney general or any county attorney, may seek judicial enforcement of the …

This section may be cited as the “Iowa Fair Information Practices Act” . It is the intent of this section to require that the information policies of state agencies are clearly defined and subject to public review and comment. 1. Each state agency as defined in chapter 17A shall …

A political subdivision or public body which is not a state agency as defined in chapter 17A is not required to adopt policies to implement section 22.11 . However, if a public body chooses to adopt policies to implement section 22.11 the policies must be adopted by the elected g…

When a government body reaches a final, binding, written settlement agreement that resolves a legal dispute claiming monetary damages, equitable relief, or a violation of a rule or statute, the government body shall, upon request and to the extent allowed under applicable law, pr…

1. For purposes of this section : a. “Personnel settlement agreement” means a binding legal agreement between a state employee and the state employee’s employer, subject to section 22.13 , to resolve a personnel dispute including but not limited to a grievance. “Personnel settlem…

1. The records of investment transactions made by or on behalf of a public body are public records and are the property of the public body whether in the custody of the public body or in the custody of a fiduciary or other third party. 2. If such records of public investment tran…

A government body that takes disciplinary action against an employee that may result in information described in section 22.7, subsection 11 , paragraph “a” , subparagraph (5), being placed in the employee’s personnel record, prior to taking such disciplinary action, shall notify…

1. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a public record that is an archive, as defined in section 8A.602 , shall be available for public examination and copying under this chapter if the public record was created at least one hundred years prior to a request for …

1. Every person shall have the right to examine and copy a public record and to publish or otherwise disseminate a public record or the information contained in a public record. Unless otherwise provided for by law, the right to examine a public record shall include the right to …

1. The examination and copying of public records shall be done under the supervision of the lawful custodian of the records or the custodian’s authorized designee. The lawful custodian shall not require the physical presence of a person requesting or receiving a copy of a public …

1. As used in this section : a. “Access” means the instruction of, communication with, storage of data in, or retrieval of data from a computer. b. “Computer” means an electronic device which performs logical, arithmetical, and memory functions by manipulations of electronic or m…

The rights of persons under this chapter may be exercised under any of the following circumstances: 1. In person, at any time during the customary office hours of the lawful custodian of the records. However, if the lawful custodian does not have customary office hours of at leas…

The provisions of this chapter and all rights of persons under this chapter may be enforced by mandamus or injunction, whether or not any other remedy is also available. In the alternative, rights under this chapter also may be enforced by an action for judicial review according …

The following public records shall be kept confidential, unless otherwise ordered by a court, by the lawful custodian of the records, or by another person duly authorized to release such information: 1. Personal information in records regarding a student, prospective student, or …

1. The district court may grant an injunction restraining the examination, including copying, of a specific public record or a narrowly drawn class of public records. A hearing shall be held on a request for injunction upon reasonable notice as determined by the court to persons …

1. If it is determined that any provision of this chapter would cause the denial of funds, services or essential information from the United States government which would otherwise definitely be available to an agency of this state, such provision shall be suspended as to such ag…

As used in this chapter : 1. “Personal information” means any list, record, register, registry, roll, roster, or other compilation of data that directly or indirectly identifies a person as a member, supporter, or volunteer of, or donor of financial or nonfinancial support to, an…

1. A public agency shall not do any of the following: a. Require an entity which is exempt from taxation under section 501(c) of the federal Internal Revenue Code to provide the public agency with personal information. b. Release, publicize, or otherwise disclose personal informa…

1. A person alleging a violation of this chapter , section 504.1604, subsection 5 , or section 504.1605, subsection 5 , may bring a civil action for injunctive relief, damages, or both. Damages may include either of the following: a. Not less than two thousand five hundred dollar…

A person who knowingly violates a provision of this chapter, section 504.1604, subsection 5 , or section 504.1605, subsection 5 , is guilty of a serious misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than ninety days or a fine of not more than one thousand dollars, or both. …

This chapter shall not affect any provision of chapter 68A . 2021 Acts, ch 120, §6

1. The following shall not be construed as a violation of this chapter with respect to the department of revenue: a. The identification of a person as a representative, responsible party, employee, withholding agent, or other signatory or contact of an entity exempt from taxation…

This chapter may be cited as the “Iowa Public Information Board Act” . The purpose of this chapter is to provide an alternative means by which to secure compliance with and enforcement of the requirements of chapters 21 and 22 through the provision by the Iowa public information …

1. If any party declines informal assistance or if informal assistance fails to resolve the matter to the satisfaction of all parties, the board shall initiate a formal investigation concerning the facts and circumstances set forth in the complaint. The board shall, after an appr…