571—12.26(321G,321I,462A,483A) Temporary suspensions and immediate revocations of instructor certifications or approved mentor status.
	12.26(1) Any complaint made against a certified instructor or a mentor will be taken seriously and will be investigated by a program coordinator or a conservation officer. If convincing evidence exists that a certified instructor or mentor engaged in any of the activities listed in rule 571—12.25(321G,321I,462A,483A), the instructor’s certification or mentor’s approved status will be temporarily suspended. A letter detailing the reason(s) for the suspension will be sent via certified mail to the last-known address of the instructor or mentor. The letter will detail the length of the suspension and any corrective action to be taken before the instructor or mentor can be reinstated.
	12.26(2) At the conclusion of the department’s investigation, any certified instructor or mentor who is found to have engaged in the activities listed in rule 571—12.25(321G,321I,462A,483A), numbered paragraph “3,” “5,” “7,” “8,” “10,” or “11,” shall immediately have the instructor’s certification or mentor status revoked.
	12.26(3) At the conclusion of the department’s investigation, if a certified instructor is found to have engaged in the activities listed in rule 571—12.25(321G,321I,462A,483A), numbered paragraph “1,” “2,” “4,” “6,” “9,” or “12,” the suspension shall be exercised at the department’s discretion based upon the nature and seriousness of the misconduct.
	12.26(4) For the hunter education program, bow hunter education program, and fur harvester education program, the results of the department’s investigation shall be supplied to the Iowa hunter education instructor association (IHEIA), which shall review the results and supply a disciplinary recommendation to the department. The department shall consider IHEIA’s recommendation when exercising its discretion to suspend or revoke the instructor’s certification, based upon the nature and seriousness of the misconduct.
[ARC 7890C, IAB 5/1/24, effective 6/5/24]