Opinion ID: 1246136
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Construction of 501 Iowa Administrative Code 2.1.

Text: The rule which caused Hollinrake's rejection, 501 Iowa Administrative Code 2.1, provides in relevant part: In no case shall any person hereafter be selected or appointed as a law enforcement officer unless the person: .... 2.1(9) Has an uncorrected vision of not less than 20/100 in both eyes, corrected to 20/20 . . . . Hollinrake's distance vision in his left eye is 20/100 corrected to 20/80. The vision in his right is 20/30 corrected to 20/20. Using both eyes, his corrected vision is 20/20. Hollinrake contends his uncorrected vision is 20/100 or better in both eyes, and that it is corrected to 20/20 when he is using both eyes. Hollinrake argues that the academy's interpretation that each eye must be corrected to 20/20 is erroneous. We give an agency a reasonable range of discretion in the interpretation and application of its own administrative rules. Meads v. Iowa Dep't of Social Servs., 366 N.W.2d 555, 558 (Iowa 1985). However, we are not bound by its determination. It is ultimately the duty of the court to determine matters of law including the interpretation of a statute or agency rule interpreting a statute. Cosper v. Iowa Dep't of Job Serv., 321 N.W.2d 6, 10 (Iowa 1982). We will not defer to an agency interpretation that is plainly inconsistent with its rule or plainly erroneous. Sommers v. Iowa Civil Rights Comm'n, 337 N.W.2d 470, 475 (Iowa 1983). The rules for construction of administrative rules are nearly identical to those for construction of statutes. Iowa Fed. of Labor v. Iowa Dep't of Job Serv., 427 N.W.2d 443, 449 (Iowa 1988); Messina v. Iowa Dep't of Job Serv., 341 N.W.2d 52, 56 (Iowa 1981). One difference is that it is the intent of the agency in promulgating a rule which provides the basis of construction. Iowa Fed. of Labor, 427 N.W.2d at 449; American Home Prods. v. Iowa State Bd. of Tax Review, 302 N.W.2d 140, 143 (Iowa 1981). Iowa Code section 80B.11(4) provides in relevant part: The director of the academy, subject to the approval of the council, shall promulgate rules in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and chapter 17A, giving due consideration to varying factors and special requirements of law enforcement agencies relative to the following: .... 4. Minimum standards of physical, educational and moral fitness which shall govern the recruitment, selection and appointment of law enforcement officers. While we will not defer to an agency's interpretation that is plainly inconsistent with its rule or plainly erroneous, Hollinrake has made no effort to show that the academy's interpretation is either plainly inconsistent with the rule or that it is plainly erroneous. The rule is clearly subject to two interpretations, and the academy's interpretation is just as reasonable as Hollinrake's. The academy's interpretation, that the rule requires corrected vision of 20/20 in each eye, is clearly plausible. The academy reasons that the word corrected in the rule relates to the word uncorrected in the first sentence of the rule. Therefore, the words in both eyes refer to both corrected and uncorrected. Moreover, 20/20 vision in each eye is a rational requirement because of a need for proper depth perception and reserve vision in the event of injury to one eye in the performance of the officer's duty. We conclude that the academy's interpretation of the rule should be sustained.