193E—18.6(272C,543B) Complaints. Written complaints may be submitted to the commission office by mail, email, online via the commission’s website, or personal delivery by any member of the public with knowledge of possible law or rule violations by licensees. Timely filing is encouraged to ensure the availability of witnesses and to avoid initiation of an investigation under conditions which may become substantially altered during a period of delay.
	18.6(1) Contents of a written complaint. Written complaints may be submitted on forms provided by the commission which are available from the commission office and on the commission’s website. Written complaints, whether submitted on a commission complaint form or in other written medium, 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 (licensee 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 demonstrates that the respondent has violated or is violating laws or rules enforced by the commission.
	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.
	g. 	The address of the property involved.
	18.6(2) Immunity. A person is not civilly liable for filing a complaint unless such act is done with malice as provided by Iowa Code section 272C.8(1)“a.” Employees cannot be discriminated against as a result for filing a complaint as provided by Iowa Code section 272C.8(1)“c.”
	18.6(3) Role of complainant. The role of the complainant in the disciplinary process is limited to providing the commission with factual information relative to the complaint. A complainant is not party to any disciplinary proceeding which may be initiated by the commission based in whole or in part on information provided by the complainant.
	18.6(4) Role of the commission. The commission does not act as an arbiter of disputes between private parties, nor does the commission initiate disciplinary proceedings to advance the private interests of any person or party. The role of the commission in the disciplinary process is to protect the public by investigating complaints and initiating disciplinary proceedings in appropriate cases. The commission 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 licensee discipline to be imposed, if any.
	18.6(5) Initial complaint screening. All written complaints received by the commission are initially screened by the commission’s administrator or designated staff to determine whether the allegations of the complaint fall within the commission’s investigatory jurisdiction and whether the facts presented, if true, would constitute a basis for disciplinary action against a licensee. Complaints which are clearly outside the commission’s jurisdiction, which clearly do not allege facts upon which disciplinary action would be based, or which are frivolous may be closed by the commission administrator or may be referred by the commission administrator to the commission for closure at the next scheduled commission meeting. All other complaints are referred by the commission administrator to the commission’s disciplinary committee for committee review as described in rule 193E—18.9(17A,272C,543B). If a complainant objects in writing to the closure of the complaint by the commission administrator, the administrator will refer the objection to the disciplinary committee or commission for reconsideration.
	18.6(6) Withdrawal or amendment. A complaint may be amended or withdrawn at any time prior to official notification of the respondent and thereafter at the sole discretion of the commission. The commission may choose to pursue a matter even after a complaint has been withdrawn.
[ARC 7780C, IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24]