1. Sources of the Law New County Officials School
David Vestal, ISAC Deputy Director
January 22, 2003

2. What are my Goals Today? To introduce you to the various bodies of law
To explain how you can access that law

3. Class is divided into five parts:
Statutes
Attorney Generals Opinions
Administrative Law
Court Decisions
County Home Rule

4. Statutes Four volume hardbound set 2003 edition just published
Code Index
Updated by 2003 Code Supplement
Session Laws
Code Annotated-includes court decisions

5. Chapter 331 Most important chapter for county officials
Includes structure of county government
Lists duties of BOS and all other elected officials

6. Contains duties pertaining to Finances and Budgeting
Not Just Chapter 331
356 Jails
335 Zoning
350 Conservation Boards
137 Boards of Health
Mental Health
125 Substance Abuse

7. Iowa Code on the Web:

8. Rules of Statutory Interpretation

9. Look to Chapter 4 “Shall” imposes a duty prospective statutes
irreconcilable statutes

10. Attorney General Opinions
Written Legal Opinions issued by the Attorney General
Not Binding
Requests submitted by county attorneys or legislators

11. What Subjects Do They Cover?
Many issues of interest to counties

12. How Can We Review Them? Published
Summarized in The Iowa County magazine
Available in County Law Library
Can be requested at (515)

13. Iowa Administrative Code
Administrative Rules
Adopted by State Agencies
Must be Based on State Law
Force and Effect of Law

14. Jet Ski Operators
Must have 20 hours of instruction
Provided by DPS

15. What Don’t We Know? What course will consist of?
How do you prove you took the course?
Who can teach the course?
Can the DPS charge a fee for the course?
Where will it be offered?

16. How Are Administrative Rules Adopted?
Chapter 17A of the Iowa Code
Notice of Intended Action
Public Hearing
Final Rule Filed
Emergency Rules
Administrative Rules Committee

17. How Are Rules Published?
22 Volume Iowa Administrative Code
Available in county law library
Organized by state agency
Statues Implemented Section
Available online at

18. Court Decisions
State Courts
Iowa Court of Appeals
Iowa Supreme Court

19. Federal Courts: US District Courts for Northern and Southern Districts
8th Circuit Court of Appeals

20. Where are Iowa Supreme Court cases published?
Northwestern Reporter
Oliver v. Sioux City Community School District
389 N.W. 2d 665
Available online: judicial.state.ia.us

21. County Home Rule Dillon Rule Adopted in 1978
Article III, sec. 39A of Iowa Constitution

22. What is Home Rule?
Counties can now do anything they want, unless it is specifically prohibited by state law
Implemented as Chapter 331