ARC 0610D

ARC 0610D

PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT[661]

Notice of Intended Action

Proposing rulemaking related to statewide interoperable communications system board and providing an opportunity for public comment

    The Department of Public Safety hereby proposes to rescind Chapter 600, “Statewide Interoperable Communications System Board,” Iowa Administrative Code, and to adopt a new Chapter 600 with the same title.

Legal Authority for Rulemaking

    This rulemaking is proposed under the authority provided in Iowa Code section 80.28 and Executive Order 10.

State or Federal Law Implemented

    This rulemaking implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code section 80.29.

Purpose and Summary

    Pursuant to Executive Order 10, the Department proposes to rescind Chapter 600 and adopt a new chapter in lieu thereof. The proposed chapter provides for board structure and procedures as it relates to the Iowa Statewide Interoperable Communications System Board (ISICSB). 

Regulatory Analysis

    A Regulatory Analysis for this rulemaking was published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin on July 8, 2026. A public hearing was held on the following date(s):

     ?   July 28, 2026

    The Department received no comments.

Fiscal Impact

     This rulemaking has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa.

Jobs Impact

    After analysis and review of this rulemaking, no impact on jobs has been found.

Waivers

    Any person who believes that the application of the discretionary provisions of this rulemaking would result in hardship or injustice to that person may petition the Department for a waiver of the discretionary provisions, if any, pursuant to 7—Chapter 2504.

Public Comment

     Any interested person may submit written or oral comments concerning this proposed rulemaking, which must be received by the Department no later than 4:30 p.m. on October 21, 2026. Comments should be directed to:

Public Hearing

    Public hearings at which persons may present their views orally or in writing will be held as follows:

    Persons who wish to make oral comments at a public hearing may be asked to state their names for the record and to confine their remarks to the subject of this proposed rulemaking.

     Any persons who intend to attend a public hearing and have special requirements, such as those related to hearing or mobility impairments, should contact the Department and advise of specific needs.

Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee

    The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rulemaking by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rulemaking at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee’s meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).

    The following rulemaking action is proposed:

    ITEM 1.  Rescind 661—Chapter 600 and adopt the following new chapter in lieu thereof:

CHAPTER 600

STATEWIDE INTEROPERABLE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM BOARD

661—600.1(80) Establishment of board. The Iowa statewide interoperable communications system board is established in Iowa Code section 80.28.

661—600.2(80) Definitions. The following definitions apply to the rules in this chapter:

    “Board” means the statewide interoperable communications system board established in Iowa Code section 80.28.

    “Interoperability” means the same as defined in Iowa Code section 80.28(1).

    “Legal counsel to the board” means the assistant attorney general assigned to provide legal advice and representation to the board.

    “Quorum” means two-thirds or more of the current voting members of the board.

661—600.3(80) Statewide interoperability coordinator. The board may select and appoint a person who is not a member of the board as the statewide interoperability coordinator to coordinate work performed on behalf of the board and to complete tasks related to the mission of the board as assigned by the board or by the chairperson of the board with board approval.

661—600.4(80) Board procedures. The board shall operate under the following procedures.

    600.4(1) Membership. The board shall include seven voting members and four ex officio, nonvoting members who are members of the Iowa general assembly, as provided in Iowa Code section 80.28.

    600.4(2) Meetings.

    a.  The board shall meet at least once a quarter at a time and place determined by the board. Additional meetings may be called by:

    (1)  The chairperson,

    (2)  The vice chairperson, or

    (3)  The statewide interoperability coordinator, at the request of three or more voting members of the board.

    b.  If a quorum is not present at a scheduled meeting of the board, the members of the board who are present may convene, may take testimony and public comment, and may engage in discussion of board business, but shall not take any action other than to adjourn.

    c.  Notice of all meetings of the board shall be given in accordance with the provisions of Iowa Code section 21.4.

    d.  All meetings of the board are public meetings and shall be conducted in accordance with Iowa Code section 21.3.

    (1)  A portion of any board meeting may be closed to the public for any of the reasons enumerated in Iowa Code section 21.5 and only subsequent to the procedures specified in Iowa Code section 21.5 to be followed by a public body in order to close a meeting to the public. If a board meeting has been closed to the public, the board shall not adjourn while in closed session, and may do so only after the meeting has been reopened to the public.

    (2)  The chairperson or vice chairperson may extend invitations to subject matter experts or other parties to address items on the agenda of the board at meetings of the board.

    (3)  Members of the public shall be afforded an opportunity to address the board at each regular meeting during a period labeled “public comment period” on the agenda, subject to reasonable time limits established by the person presiding at the meeting.

    (4)  Remote telephonic access to a meeting of the board may be provided at the request of a board member or a member of the public consistent with Iowa Code chapter 21.

    e.  Meetings of the board shall be conducted in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order, 12th edition.

    600.4(3) Officers. Officers of the board shall be a chairperson and a vice chairperson.

    a.  Election of the chairperson and the vice chairperson shall take place at a regular meeting of the board.

    b.  The chairperson and the vice chairperson shall each be elected for a two-year term, commencing at the conclusion of the meeting at which the election takes place.

    c.  The chairperson and the vice chairperson shall each be a voting member of the board.

    d.  If the chairperson or the vice chairperson ceases to be a voting member of the board, or if the chairperson or the vice chairperson resigns from the position, the position shall become vacant. If the position of the chairperson becomes vacant, the vice chairperson shall become chairperson and shall serve the remainder of the two-year term to which the chairperson had been elected, and the position of vice chairperson shall become vacant. If the position of vice chairperson has become vacant, an election to fill the remainder of the two-year term shall be conducted at the next regular meeting of the board following the occurrence of the vacancy.

    e.  Election to the position of chairperson or vice chairperson shall require a majority of the voting members of the board who are present and voting at a meeting at which a quorum of the board is in attendance.

    f.  If the board fails to elect a chairperson or a vice chairperson at the board meeting when a term of office ends, the incumbent chairperson or vice chairperson shall continue to serve until a successor is elected.

661—600.5(80) Committees.

    600.5(1) Standing committees. A standing committee may be created or disbanded by majority vote of the voting members of the board present at any board meeting.

    a.  The chairperson of each standing committee shall be a voting member of the board.

    b.  Persons who are not voting members of the board may serve on a standing committee.

    c.  The chairperson of the board, with approval of the board, shall appoint members of the standing committee.

    600.5(2) Ad hoc committees. The chairperson may establish ad hoc committees for specific purposes and terms and may appoint persons to those committees in an advisory capacity based upon their expertise in the subject matter.

661—600.6(80) Board finances. Operational expenses of the board and of the statewide interoperability coordinator shall be paid from funds available to the department of public safety or the department of transportation, pursuant to an agreement between those agencies, except that expenses related to participation on the board by employees of state agencies shall be borne by their respective agencies.

661—600.7(80) Contracts. The board may enter into contracts with other entities to carry out tasks in pursuit of the board’s purpose. Any such contract shall be entered into subject to approval of the legal counsel to the board and shall comply with the rules of the department of administrative services and any other applicable state laws regarding purchases by state agencies.

661—600.8(80) Competitive grants. If funds are available to the board to award grants on a competitive basis for projects to further the purposes of the board, the chairperson shall appoint an advisory committee to review grant applications. The chairperson of the advisory committee shall be a voting member of the board, although other members may be members of the board or other persons with expertise helpful in evaluating grant applications. The statewide interoperability coordinator shall, prior to the solicitation of applications for the grant funds and with the approval of the board, develop a grant application form and an evaluation methodology that shall be understandable and made available to any prospective applicant. The availability of grant funds shall be made known as widely as practicable prior to the deadline for accepting applications.

661—600.9(80) Additional information. Additional descriptive and explanatory information about the board and its procedures and about interoperability issues may be found on the website of the board at isicsb.iowa.gov/index.html.

These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code section 80.29.