Iowa Admin. Code rr. 811-16.31

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 5, September 4, 2024

Rule 811-16.31 - Disciplinary hearing-fees and costs

(1)Definitions. As used in this rule in relation to a formal disciplinary action filed by the board against a credential holder:

"Deposition" means the testimony of a person taken pursuant to subpoena or at the request of the state of Iowa taken in a setting other than a hearing.

"Expenses" means costs incurred by persons appearing pursuant to subpoena or at the request of the state of Iowa for purposes of providing testimony on the part of the state of Iowa in a hearing or other official proceeding and shall include mileage reimbursement at the rate specified in Iowa Code section 70A.9 or, if commercial air or ground transportation is used, the actual cost of transportation to and from the proceeding. Also included are actual costs incurred for meals and necessary lodging.

"Medical examination fees" means actual costs incurred by the board in a physical, mental, chemical abuse, or other impairment-related examination or evaluation of a credential holder when the examination or evaluation is conducted pursuant to an order of the board.

"Record" means the proceedings of the hearing including but not limited to the transcript and any documentary evidence admitted or offered at the hearing.

"Transcript" means a printed verbatim reproduction of everything said on the record during a hearing or other official proceeding.

"Witness fees" means compensation paid by the board to persons appearing pursuant to subpoena or at the request of the state of Iowa for purposes of providing testimony on the part of the state of Iowa. For the purpose of this rule, compensation shall be the same as outlined in Iowa Code section 622.69 or 622.72, as applicable.

(2)Disciplinary hearing fee. The board may charge a fee not to exceed the amount authorized in Iowa Code section 272C.6 for conducting a disciplinary hearing that results in disciplinary action taken against the credential holder by the board. An order assessing a fee must be included as part of the board's final decision. The order must direct the credential holder to deliver payment directly to the department of agriculture and land stewardship as provided in subrule 16.31(6).

(3)Recovery of related hearing costs. The board may also recover from the credential holder the costs for transcripts, witness fees and expenses, depositions, and medical examination fees, if disciplinary action is taken. The board may assess these costs in the manner it deems most equitable in accordance with the following:

a.Transcript costs. The board may assess the transcript costs against the credential holder pursuant to Iowa Code section 272C.6(6) or against the requesting party pursuant to Iowa Code section 17A.12(7).

(1) The cost of the transcript includes the transcript of the original contested case hearing before the board, as well as transcripts of any other formal proceedings before the board that occur after the notice of the contested case hearing is filed.

(2) In the event of an appeal to the full board from a proposed decision, the appealing party must timely request and pay for the transcript necessary for use in the board appeal process.

b.Witness fees and expenses. The parties in a contested case are responsible for any witness fees and expenses incurred by witnesses appearing at the contested case hearing. In addition, the board may assess a credential holder the witness fees and expenses incurred by witnesses called to testify on behalf of the state of Iowa, provided that the costs are calculated as follows:

(1) The costs for lay witnesses will be determined in accordance with Iowa Code section 622.69. For purposes of calculating the mileage expenses allowed under that section, the provisions of Iowa Code section 625.2 do not apply.

(2) The costs for expert witnesses will be determined in accordance with Iowa Code section 622.72. For purposes of calculating the mileage expenses allowed under that section, the provisions of Iowa Code section 625.2 do not apply.

(3) The provisions of Iowa Code section 622.74 regarding advance payment of witness fees and the consequences of failure to make such payment are applicable with regard to witnesses who are subpoenaed by either party to testify at the hearing.

(4) The board may assess as costs the meal and lodging expenses necessarily incurred by witnesses testifying at the request of the state of Iowa. Meal and lodging costs shall not exceed the reimbursement employees of the state of Iowa receive for these expenses under the department of revenue guidelines currently in effect.

c.Deposition costs. Deposition costs for purposes of allocating costs against a credential holder include only those deposition costs incurred by the state of Iowa. The credential holder is directly responsible for the payment of deposition costs incurred by the credential holder.

(1) The costs for depositions include the cost of transcripts, the daily charge of the court reporter for attending and transcribing the deposition, and all mileage and travel time charges of the court reporter for traveling to and from the deposition that are charged in the ordinary course of business.

(2) If the deposition is of an expert witness, the deposition costs include a reasonable fee for an expert witness. This fee must not exceed the expert's customary hourly or daily fee, and must include the time reasonably and necessarily spent in connection with the deposition, including the time spent in travel to and from the deposition, but excluding time spent in preparation for the deposition.

d.Medical examination fees. All costs of physical or mental examinations ordered by the board pursuant to Iowa Code section 272C.9(1) as part of an investigation of a pending complaint or as a sanction following a contested case must be paid directly by the credential holder.

(4) Certification of reimbursable costs. Within ten days after conclusion of a contested case hearing and before issuance of any final decision assessing costs, the secretary must certify any reimbursable costs to the board. The secretary must calculate the specific costs, certify the costs calculated, and file the certification as part of the record in the contested case. A copy of the certification must be served on each party of record at the time of the filing.

(5)Assessment of fees and costs. A final decision of the board imposing disciplinary action against a credential holder must include the amount of any fee assessed. If the board also assesses costs against the credential holder, the final decision must include a statement of costs delineating each category of costs and the amount assessed. The board must specify the time period in which the fees and costs must be paid by the credential holder.

a. A party must file an objection to any fees or costs imposed in a final decision in order to exhaust administrative remedies. An objection must be filed in the form of an application for rehearing pursuant to Iowa Code section 17A.16(2).

b. The application must be resolved by the board consistent with the procedures for ruling on an application for rehearing. Any dispute regarding the calculations of any fees or costs to be assessed may be resolved by the board upon receipt of the parties' written objections.

(6)Payment of fees and costs. Payment for fees and costs assessed pursuant to this rule must be made in the form of a check or money order made payable to the state of Iowa and delivered by the credential holder to the department of agriculture and land stewardship.

(7)Failure to make payment. Failure of a credential holder to pay any fees and costs within the time specified in the board's decision constitutes a violation of an order of the board and is grounds for disciplinary action.

Iowa Admin. Code rr. 811-16.31

Adopted by IAB May 15, 2024/Volume XLVI, Number 24, effective 7/1/2024