DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The head of Iowa’s largest public employees union and 20 lawmakers have filed a lawsuit against Gov. Terry Branstad over the closings of two mental health centers.

Danny Homan, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, announced Monday that he and lawmakers filed the lawsuit in Polk County District Court. The suit names Branstad and Charles Palmer, the director of the state Department of Human Services.

The lawsuit claims the closings this year of facilities in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant were illegal because Iowa law requires the state to operate them.Branstad’s spokesman Jimmy Centers says Homan is resistant to change. He reiterated that the centers were not suited to offer modern mental health care. A DHS spokeswoman says the agency doesn’t comment on pending litigation.