571—12.26 (321G,321I,462A,483A) Temporary suspensions and immediate revocations of instructor certifications.
	 12.26(1) Any complaint made against a department-certified instructor will be taken seriously and will be investigated by a program coordinator, a recreation safety officer, or a conservation officer. If convincing evidence exists that a certified instructor engaged in any of the activities listed in rule 571—12.25(321G,321I,462A,483A), the instructor’s certification will be temporarily suspended. A letter detailing the reason(s) for the instructor’s certification suspension will be sent via certified mail to the last-known address of the instructor. The letter will detail the length of the suspension and any corrective action to be taken by the instructor before the instructor’s certification is reinstated.
	 12.26(2) At the conclusion of the department’s investigation, any certified instructor 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,” “11,” or “12,” shall immediately have the instructor’s certification revoked. In the event that an instructor’s certification is revoked, rule 571—12.29(321G,321I,462A,483A) shall apply.
	 12.26(3) At the conclusion of the department’s investigation, if a certified instructor is found to have exercised bad judgment while teaching a class, failed to complete paperwork in a timely and proper manner, or engaged in risky or unsafe behavior or in an activity listed in rule 571—12.25(321G,321I,462A,483A), numbered paragraph “4,” “6,” “9,” or “13,” 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 safety and ethics 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 8816B, IAB 6/2/10, effective 7/7/10]