193G—6.5  (272C,544C)  Complaints.  Written complaints may be submitted to the board office by mail, E-mail, facsimile, or personal delivery by members of the public, including clients, business organizations, nonprofit organizations, governmental bodies, registrants, or other individuals or entities with knowledge of possible law or rule violations by registrants.
	   6.5(1) Contents of a written complaint. Written complaints may be submitted on forms provided by the board which are available from the board office and on the board’s Web site. Written complaints, whether submitted on a board complaint form or in other written medium, may contain the following information:
	      a.    	  The full name, address, and telephone number of the complainant (person complaining).
	      b.    	  The full name, address, and telephone number of the respondent (registrant against whom the complaint is filed).
	      c.    	  A statement of the facts and circumstances giving rise to the complaint, including a description of the alleged acts or omissions which the complainant believes demonstrate that the respondent has violated or is violating laws or rules enforced by the board.
	      d.    	  If known, citations to the laws or rules allegedly violated by the respondent.
	      e.    	  Evidentiary supporting documentation.
	      f.    	  Steps, if any, taken by the complainant to resolve the dispute with the respondent prior to filing a complaint.
	   6.5(2) Immunity. As provided by Iowa Code section 272C.8, a person shall not be civilly liable as a result of filing a report or complaint with the board unless such act is done with malice, nor shall an employee be dismissed from employment or discriminated against by an employer for filing such a report or complaint.
	   6.5(3) Role of complainant. The role of the complainant in the disciplinary process is limited to providing the board with factual information relative to the complaint. A complainant is not party to any disciplinary proceeding which may be initiated by the board based in whole or in part on information provided by the complainant.
	   6.5(4) Role of the board. The board does not act as an arbiter of disputes between private parties, nor does the board initiate disciplinary proceedings to advance the private interest of any person or party. The role of the board in the disciplinary process is to protect the public by investigating complaints and initiating disciplinary proceedings in appropriate cases. The board possesses sole decision-making authority throughout the disciplinary process, including the authority to determine whether a case will be investigated, the manner of the investigation, whether a disciplinary proceeding will be initiated, and the appropriate registrant discipline to be imposed, if any.
	   6.5(5) Initial complaint screening. All written complaints received by the board shall be initially screened by the board’s executive officer to determine whether the allegations of the complaint fall within the board’s investigatory jurisdiction and whether the facts presented, if true, would constitute a basis for disciplinary action against a registrant. Complaints which are clearly outside the board’s jurisdiction, which clearly do not allege facts upon which disciplinary action would be based, or which are frivolous shall be referred by the board’s executive officer to the board for closure at the next scheduled board meeting. All other complaints shall be referred by the board’s executive officer to the board’s disciplinary committee for committee review as described in rule 193G—6.8(17A,272C,544C).
[ ARC 3024C , IAB 4/12/17, effective 5/17/17]