Iowa Admin. Code r. 761-4.9

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 13, December 25, 2024

Rule 761-4.9 - Confidential records

This rule describes the types of departmental information or records that are confidential. This rule is not exhaustive. A citation of the legal authority for confidentiality follows each description. The following records shall be kept confidential. Records are listed by category, according to the legal basis for withholding them from public inspection.

Descriptions:

(1) Records which are exempt from disclosure under Iowa Code section 22.7.

(2) Records which constitute attorney work product, attorney-client communications, or are otherwise privileged. (Attorney work product is confidential under Iowa Code sections 22.7, 622.10 and 622.11, Iowa R. C. P. 1.503, Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(3), and case law. Attorney-client communications are confidential under Iowa Code sections 622.10 and 622.11, the rules of evidence, the Iowa Rules of Professional Conduct, and case law.)

(3) Those portions of the department's staff manuals, instructions or other statements issued by the department which set forth criteria or guidelines to be used by its departmental staff in auditing, making inspections, settling commercial disputes or negotiating commercial arrangements, or in the selection or handling of cases, such as operational tactics or allowable tolerances or criteria for the defense, prosecution or settlement of cases, when the disclosure of such statements would enable law violators to avoid detection, facilitate disregard of requirements imposed by law, or give a clearly improper advantage to persons who are in an adverse position to the department. (Iowa Code sections 17A.2 and 17A.3 )

(4) The detailed minutes and recordings of closed sessions of the commission. However, if a closed session regards a real estate purchase or sale, the minutes and recording shall be available for public inspection when the transaction discussed is completed. (Iowa Code section 21.5 )

(5) Vehicle accident reports submitted to the department by drivers and peace officers. (Iowa Code sections 321.266 and 321.271 )

a. However, access shall be granted to those persons authorized by Iowa Code section 321.271.

b. Reserved.

(6) Unless otherwise ordered by the court, all information filed with the court for the purpose of securing a warrant for an arrest including, but not limited to, a citation and affidavits, until such time as a peace officer has made the arrest and has made the officer's return on the warrant, or the defendant has made an initial appearance in court. (Iowa Code section 804.29)

a. However, the information in the record may be disseminated without court order during the course of official duties to the persons authorized in Iowa Code section 804.29 unless access to such information is expressly denied by court order.

b. Reserved.

(7) All information filed with the court for the purpose of securing a warrant for a search, including, but not limited to, an application and affidavits, until such time as a peace officer has executed the warrant and has made return thereon. (Iowa Code section 808.13 )

a. During the period of time that information is confidential, it shall be sealed by the court, and the information contained therein shall not be disseminated to any person other than a peace officer, magistrate or other court employee, in the course of official duties.

b. Reserved.

(8) Information obtained by the department from the examining of reports, returns or records required to be filed or kept under the provisions of Iowa Code chapter 452A, except where disclosure is authorized by Iowa Code chapter 452A. (Iowa Code section 452A.63 )

(9) Sealed bids, until the time set for the public opening of bids, whereupon bids are unsealed and no longer confidential. (Iowa Code section 72.3 )

(10) Those records which, if disclosed, would diminish competition or would give an improper advantage to persons who are in an adverse position to the department. These records shall be kept confidential until the transaction to which they relate is consummated. However, if disclosure would reveal information which would hinder future competition, the records shall be kept confidential. (Iowa Code sections 17A.2, 17A.3, 22.7 and 313.10, Iowa Code chapter 553, and 761-Chapter 20)

a. Examples of records which could, in the proper circumstances, be determined to be within this category include, but are not limited to:

(1) Detailed estimates of the cost of a proposed contract.

(2) Economic analyses for determining pavement types.

(3) Negotiations for a proposed contract.

(4) Methodology for determining unfair bidding practices or bid rigging.

(5) Price quotations solicited.

(6) The value of points assigned to a bid rating formula prior to the time set for public opening of bids.

(7) Laboratory testing reports of suppliers' products. These may also be trade secrets. The subject of the report has the right of access to it.

b. Reserved.

(11) Audit reviews for determining equal employment opportunity contract compliance. (Iowa Code section 22.7 and 5 U.S.C. § 552 and 552a )

a. The subject of the audit review has the right of access to it.

b. Reserved.

(12) All financial records and any information contained within them that are made available to the department, unless otherwise expressly permitted to be divulged by federal or state law. (Iowa Code sections 22.7 and 422.20 and 5 U.S.C. § 552 and 552a )

(13) Personal information in any motor vehicle record, including personal information contained on electronic driver's license or nonoperator's identification card records that is provided by the licensee or card holder to the department for use by law enforcement, first responders, emergency medical service providers, and other medical personnel responding to or assisting with an emergency. (Iowa Code sections 22.7 and 321.11 and 18 U.S.C. § 2721 et seq.)

a. Information other than personal information contained on electronic driver's license or nonoperator's identification card records that is provided by the licensee or card holder to the department for use by law enforcement, first responders, emergency medical service providers, and other medical personnel responding to or assisting with an emergency may be disclosed only as provided in Iowa Code sections 321.11 and 321.11A, 18 U.S.C. § 2721 et seq., and 761-Chapter 301.

b. The subject of the personal information has the right of access to the information.

(14) A report received by the department from a physician licensed under Iowa Code chapter 148, an advanced registered nurse practitioner licensed under Iowa Code chapter 152 and licensed with the board of nursing, a physician assistant licensed under Iowa Code chapter 148C or an optometrist licensed under Iowa Code chapter 154 regarding a person who has been diagnosed as having a physical or mental condition which would render the person physically or mentally incompetent to operate a motor vehicle in a safe manner. (Iowa Code section 321.186 )

(15) Privileged and personnel records or information of law enforcement officers and undercover law enforcement officers, as specified in Iowa Code sections 80G.2 and 80G.3, as well as certain records regarding undercover driver's licenses issued to certified peace officers employed by a local authority or by the state or federal law enforcement officers, as specified in 761-Chapter 625. (Iowa Code sections 22.7, 80G.2, 80G.3 and 321.189A )

a. The subject of the record and the head of the law enforcement agency employing the subject have the right of access to the record.

b. Reserved.

(16) Records related to confidential plates issued for government vehicles. (Iowa Code section 321.19 )

a. The head of the agency to which the vehicle is assigned has the right of access to the record.

b. Reserved.

(17) Certified transcripts of labor payrolls (also known as certified payroll records) filed by contractors for federal-aid construction contracts, in accordance with the following paragraphs. (Iowa Code section 22.7, 5 U.S.C. § 552 and 552a, and 42 U.S.C. § 405 )

a. The social security numbers in a certified payroll record are confidential. The record itself may be confidential if its release would give advantage to competitors and serve no public purpose.

b. The prime contractor and subcontractor, if applicable, that filed the record have the right of access to it.

c. Certified payroll records shall be released to the U.S. Department of Labor and Federal Highway Administration during investigations.

d. The custodian may release a certified payroll record with social security numbers withheld to representatives of the Iowa Labor Management Work Preservation Fund.

e. The custodian may release a certified payroll record with social security numbers withheld to persons outside the department other than the persons listed in paragraphs 4.9(17) "b" to "d" according to the following procedure:

(1) The request for the record must be in writing.

(2) The custodian shall send a copy of the request by registered mail to the prime contractor. If the request is for subcontractor information, the custodian shall send copies of the request to both the subcontractor and prime contractor.

(3) The requested record shall not be released until 14 calendar days have expired from receipt of the request by the contractor(s) to give the contractor(s) an opportunity to seek an injunction.

(18) Information concerning an open or pending railroad accident investigation conducted on behalf of or in conjunction with the Federal Railroad Administration or National Transportation Safety Board to the extent necessary to prevent denial of funds, services or essential information from the United States government. (Iowa Code section 22.9)

(19) A geographic computer database, except upon terms and conditions acceptable to the department. (Iowa Code section 22.2 )

(20) Confidential information, as defined in Iowa Code section 86.45, filed with the workers' compensation commissioner. (Iowa Code section 22.7 )

(21) An intelligence assessment and intelligence data under Iowa Code chapter 692, except where disclosure is required or authorized by the Iowa Code. (Iowa Code chapter 692 and Iowa Code section 22.7 )

(22) Information in a record that would permit the commission, subject to Iowa Code chapter 21, to hold a closed session pursuant to Iowa Code section 21.5 in order to avoid public disclosure of that information, until such time as final action is taken on the subject matter of that information or unless otherwise authorized by the Iowa Code. (Iowa Code section 22.7 )

(23) Rescinded IAB 9/11/19, effective 10/16/19.

(24) All other information or records that by law are or may be confidential.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code chapters 22, 553 and 692; Iowa Code sections 17A.2, 17A.3, 21.5, 72.3, 80G.2, 80G.3, 313.10, 321.11, 321.11A, 321.19, 321.186, 321.189A, 321.266, 321.271, 422.20, 452A.63, 622.10, 622.11, 804.29 and 808.13; 5 U.S.C. § 552 and 552a; 18 U.S.C. § 2721 et seq.; and 42 U.S.C. § 405.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 761-4.9

ARC 0661C, IAB 4/3/2013, effective 5/8/2013

Amended by IAB July 8, 2015/Volume XXXVIII, Number 01, effective 8/12/2015

Amended by IAB April 12, 2017/Volume XXXIX, Number 21, effective 5/17/2017

Amended by IAB September 11, 2019/Volume XLII, Number 6, effective 10/16/2019

Amended by IAB February 10, 2021/Volume XLIII, Number 17, effective 3/17/2021

Amended by IAB December 1, 2021/Volume XLIV, Number 11, effective 1/5/2022