203D.4 - INDEMNITY FUND BOARD. - Iowa Statutes

203D.4 INDEMNITY FUND BOARD. 1. The Iowa grain indemnity fund board is established to advise the department on matters relating to the fund and to perform the duties provided it in this chapter. The board is composed of the secretary of agriculture or a designee who shall serve as president; the commissioner of insurance or a designee who shall serve as secretary; the state treasurer or a designee who shall serve as treasurer; and four representatives of the grain industry appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by the senate, two of whom shall be representatives of producers and who shall be actively participating producers, and two of whom shall be representatives of licensed grain dealers and licensed warehouse operators and who shall be actively participating licensed grain dealers and licensed warehouse operators, each of whom shall be selected from a list of three nominations made by the secretary of agriculture. The term of membership of the grain industry representatives is three years, and the representatives are eligible for reappointment. However, only actively participating producers, and grain dealers and warehouse operators are eligible for reappointment. The grain industry representatives are entitled to a per diem as specified in section 7E.6 for each day spent in the performance of the duties of the board, plus actual expenses incurred in the performance of those duties. Four members of the board constitute a quorum, and the affirmative vote of four members is necessary for any action taken by the board, except that a lesser number may adjourn a meeting. A vacancy in the membership of the board does not impair the rights of a quorum to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the board. 2. The duties of the board include the review and determination of claims, and the review and approval of administrative costs of the fund. To carry out these duties, the board has the power to adopt rules regarding its organization and procedures for determining claims. Further, the board shall approve rules proposed by the department for the administration of the per-bushel fee prior to their adoption by the department. The board may provide comment and advice to the department in regard to the department's administration of chapters 203 and 203C where the department's policies and rules may affect the exposure of the fund to liability. However, the board shall not become actively involved in a determination by the department as to whether disciplinary action is to be taken against a particular licensee. The board is not a forum for review or appeal in regard to any particular action taken by the department against a licensee. 3. The department through the grain warehouse bureau shall perform the administrative functions necessary for the operation of the board and the fund. Administrative costs approved by the board shall be paid from the fund. The rules of the department shall contain the rules of the board adopted for its organization and its procedures. The department shall adopt rules for the administration of the per-bushel fee upon the board's approval of the rules proposed by the department. The secretary of agriculture, as president of the board as well as head of the department of agriculture and land stewardship, shall administer the department so as to minimize the risk of loss to the fund while protecting interests of depositors and sellers of grain. Policies and rules for the administration of chapters 203 and 203C which, as determined by the secretary of agriculture, may affect the exposure of the fund, shall be presented to the board for comment prior to their adoption by the department. The department shall make reports to the board in regard to licensee investigations which may result in disciplinary action against a licensee and exposure of the fund. The reports may be discussed by the board in closed session pursuant to section 21.5, and are confidential. In making the report, the department shall make available to the board records of licensees which are otherwise confidential under section 22.7, 203.16, or 203C.24. However, a determination to take disciplinary action against a particular licensee shall be made exclusively by the department. A report to the board is not a prerequisite to disciplinary action against a licensee. Review of any action against a licensee, whether or not relating to the fund, shall be made exclusively through the department.          Section History: Recent Form 86 Acts, ch 1152, § 34 C87, § 543A.4 87 Acts, ch 147, §16; 89 Acts, ch 143, §906; 90 Acts, ch 1256, § 49 C93, § 203D.4 2008 Acts, ch 1083, §16 Referred to in § 203D.1 Confirmation, see § 2.32