281—102.9(280) Duties of designated investigator—sexual abuse allegations.

1. 102.9(1)  Upon receipt of the report, the designated investigator will make and provide a copy of the report to the person filing the report, to the student’s parent or guardian if different from the person filing the report, and to the supervisor of the employee named in the report. The school employee named in the report shall receive a copy of the report at the time the employee is initially interviewed by any investigator. However, if this action would conflict with the terms of a contractual agreement between the employer and employee, the terms of the contract control. The designated investigator shall not interview the school employee named in a report of sexual abuse until after a determination that jurisdiction exists is made, the allegedly abused student has been interviewed, and a determination is made that the investigation will not be deferred under subrule 102.9(5).
2. 102.9(2)  Upon receipt of a report of sexual abuse or other notice of an allegation of sexual abuse, the designated investigator shall review the facts alleged to determine that the allegations, if true, support the exercise of jurisdiction pursuant to rule 281—102.3(280).

3. 102.9(3)  The investigator shall notify the parent, guardian, or legal custodian of a child in prekindergarten through grade six of the date and time of the interview and of the right to be present or to see and hear the interview or to send a representative in the parent’s, guardian’s, or legal custodian’s place. The investigator shall interview the allegedly abused student as soon as possible, but in no case later than five days from the receipt of a report or notice of the allegation of sexual abuse. The investigator may record the interview electronically.

   The investigator shall exercise prudent discretion in the investigative process to preserve the privacy interests of the individuals involved. To the maximum extent possible, the investigator shall maintain the confidentiality of the report.

4. 102.9(4)  The designated investigator’s role is not to determine the guilt or innocence of the school employee. The designated investigator shall determine, by a preponderance of the evidence and based upon the investigator’s training and experience and the credibility of the student, whether it is likely that an incident took place between the student and the school employee. However, if the complaint has been withdrawn, the allegation recanted, or the employee has resigned, admitted the violation, or agreed to relinquish the employee’s teacher’s certificate or license, the designated investigator may, but need not, conclude the investigation at level one. The designated investigator will follow the applicable provisions of paragraphs 102.11(2)“b” and “c” when resolution occurs at level one.

5. 102.9(5)  If, in the investigator’s opinion, it is likely that an incident in the nature of sexual abuse as defined by Iowa Code chapter 709 or section 728.12(1) took place, the investigator shall temporarily defer further level-one investigation. In cases of deferred investigation, the investigator shall immediately contact appropriate law enforcement officials, notifying the student’s parent or guardian, and the person filing the report, if different from the student’s parent or guardian, of the action taken.

   If, in the investigator’s opinion, an incident occurred that would not constitute sexual abuse as defined in Iowa Code chapter 709 or sexual exploitation as defined by Iowa Code section 728.12(1), but that was in the nature of inappropriate, intentional sexual behavior by the school employee, further investigation is warranted. The investigator may proceed to interview the school employee named in the report. Prior to interviewing any collateral sources who may have knowledge of the circumstance contained in the report, the investigator will provide notice of the impending interview of student witnesses who are in prekindergarten through grade six, to their parent, guardian, or legal custodian, and may provide notice to the parent or guardian of older students, prior to interviewing those students.

   If, in the investigator’s opinion, the allegation of sexual abuse is unfounded either because the conduct did not occur or the conduct did not meet the definition of abuse in these rules, further investigation is not warranted. The investigator shall notify the student’s parent or guardian, the person filing the report, if different from the student’s parent or guardian, and the school employee named in the report of this conclusion in a written investigative report.

6. 102.9(6)  Within 15 calendar days of receipt of the report or notice of alleged sexual abuse, the designated investigator will complete a written investigation report unless the investigation was temporarily deferred.

[ARC 7803C, IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24]