1. A. Any person may register a complaint about an adoption agency with OLR. OLR shall ask persons making oral complaints to put the complaint in writing.
2. B. Upon receipt of a complaint, or in response to deficiencies observed by Department staff, OLR shall investigate the allegations of the complaint or the deficiencies.

3. C. OLR’s investigation may include:

   1. 1. Interviews with the complaining party, adoption agency staff, including volunteers and interns, and adoption agency clients;
   2. 2. Inspections of adoption agency records, files, or other documents related to the issues raised in the complaint; and
   3. 3. Any other activities necessary to determine the truth of the allegations.

4. D. Upon completion of its investigation, OLR shall:

   1. 1. Find that the complaint is not valid and close the investigation;
   2. 2. Find that the complaint is valid and take appropriate disciplinary action against the adoption agency, as described in this Chapter; or
   3. 3. Find that the complaint cannot be validated or refuted based on the available evidence.
5. E. OLR shall maintain a file on all complaints against an adoption agency and shall make information on validated complaints available to the general public, upon request, and to the extent permitted by confidentiality laws.
6. F. A complainant’s identity is confidential unless OLR takes a licensing action based on the testimony of the complainant.

Historical Note

New Section made by final exempt rulemaking at 21 A.A.R. 3524, effective January 24, 2016 (Supp. 15-4).