IDAPA 45.01.01 § 300

01. Who May File. A complaint may be filed under the Act by a person as defined by the Act or a
member of the Commission alleging an act, pattern, or practice of unlawful discrimination, or an unlawful reprisal.
(3-31-22)

02. Commission Assistance. A Commissioner, the Administrator, or staff member may assist any
Complainant in filing a complaint. The Commission reserves the right to refuse to accept a complaint for filing if, in
the opinion of the Administrator, there is no reason to suspect that illegal discrimination may have occurred, or if the
action is barred by the terms of Subsection 300.06.a. (3-31-22)

03. Contents of Complaint. A complaint should contain the following: (3-31-22)

a. The full name, mailing address, and telephone number (if any and if known) of the Complainant or
Complainants and Respondent or Respondents; (3-31-22)

b. A brief written statement sufficiently clear to identify the practices and describe generally the
action or practice alleged to be unlawful; (3-31-22)

c. The date or dates on which the alleged unlawful discriminatory practices occurred and, if the
alleged unlawful practice is of a continuous nature, the dates between which said continuing practices are alleged to
have occurred; (3-31-22)

d. A statement as to any other action which has been instituted in any other forum or agency based on
the same grievance as is alleged in the complaint. (3-31-22)

04. Medical Documentation. Individuals filing disability discrimination complaints may need to
furnish the Commission with opinions or records from duly licensed health professionals regarding (a) the nature of
their disabilities, and (b) any limitations, including work restrictions, caused by the disability. Failure to provide
medical reports within a reasonable period of time may be cause for dismissal of a complaint. (3-31-22)

05. Method of Filing. A complaint may be filed by personal delivery, mail, email, or facsimile
delivered to the Commission office in Boise. (3-31-22)

06. Time for Filing. A complaint must be filed within one (1) year of the alleged unlawful
discrimination. If the alleged unlawful practice is of a continuing nature, the date of the occurrence of said unlawful
practice will be deemed to be any date subsequent to the commencement of the unlawful practice up to and including
the date on which the complaint is filed if the alleged unlawful discrimination continues. (3-31-22)

a. The date a signed complaint is received at the Commission’s office will be noted on the complaint.
For purposes of compliance with Section 67-5908(4), Idaho Code, the date of notation will be the date of filing.
(3-31-22)

07. Complaints Deferred by EEOC. Any complaint deferred to the Commission by the EEOC will be
treated, for purposes of filing requirements, according to the rules stated above. (3-31-22)

08. Amended Complaints. A complaint may be amended, before the determination by the
Commission and at the discretion of the Administrator, to cure technical defects or omissions, or to clarify or amplify
allegations by the Complainant. (3-31-22)

09. Supplemental Complaint. The Complainant may file a supplemental complaint setting forth
actions that have allegedly occurred subsequent to the date of the original or amended complaint, and said
supplemental complaint, if timely filed, will be considered together in the same proceeding with the original or
amended complaint whenever practicable. (3-31-22)

10. Withdrawal of Complaint. Using a form provided by the Administrator, the Complainant may
request that a complaint, or any part thereof, be withdrawn. A withdrawal may be granted at the Administrator’s
discretion, and both parties will be notified in writing. (3-31-22)

11. Initial Actions. When filed, a complaint will be docketed, assigned a complaint number, and
assigned to the staff for mediation or investigation. (3-31-22)

12. Service on Respondent. The Commission will promptly serve a copy of the complaint on the
Respondent by personal delivery, mail, email, or facsimile. (3-31-22)

13. Mediation. Upon the filing of a complaint, the Commission or its delegated staff member will
endeavor to resolve the matter by informal means. Such informal means may include a mediation conference at a
time and place acceptable to all participants, to clarify the positions of the parties to the complaint and explore any
bases for no-fault settlement. A mediation conference is not a contested case hearing under Section 67-5209, Idaho
Code. (3-31-22)

14. Settlement. Terms of any settlement agreed to by the parties at any time prior to a determination by
the Commission on the merits of the charge will be reduced to writing in a Settlement Agreement. Upon the signing
of a Settlement Agreement by all parties, the Administrator will close the case. (3-31-22)

15. Answers. The Respondent must answer or otherwise respond to the complaint in writing within
thirty (30) days of service. A copy of Respondent’s answer, including any attachments submitted, will be sent by the
Commission staff to the Complainant. Upon application, the Commission may for good cause extend the time within
which the answer may be filed. The answer should be fully responsive to the allegation contained in the complaint,
and may provide supporting documentation and witness statements. The Commission may act on the complaint based
on the information provided by the Complainant and other evidence before it if the Respondent fails to timely answer
or otherwise respond. Upon application, the Commission may for good cause shown permit the Respondent to amend
its answer to the complaint. Any amendments to the complaint, or any supplemental complaint, will be served upon
the Respondent as promptly as possible. Answers to amended or supplemental complaints, if necessary, must be
submitted within ten (10) working days of service. Time for submitting such answers may be extended by the
Commission to thirty (30) days for good cause. (3-31-22)

16. Requests for Information, Answers, and Narrative Statements. At any time after the filing of a
complaint, the Commission staff may issue to either party requests for information regarding any matter that is not
privileged and that is relevant to the subject matter involved. Commission staff will determine the time allotted for
answers to request for information. (3-31-22)

17. File Briefs. Any party to a complaint filed with the Commission may file briefs or other written
memoranda setting out their position or interpretation of the law. (3-31-22)

18. Summary of Investigation. At the completion of the investigation, Commission staff will prepare
a report containing a summary of the investigation and submit it to the Administrator to review. (3-31-22)

19. Administrative Closure. At any point during the handling of a particular case, the Administrator

may close the case for administrative reasons that include, but are not limited to: (3-31-22)

a. Failure of the Complainant to accept a full relief settlement offer; (3-31-22)

b. Failure of the Complainant to cooperate with the Commission in the processing of the case,
including failure to answer requests for information or failure to provide medical information as requested; (3-31-22)

c. Inability to locate the Complainant; (3-31-22)

d. Lack of Commission jurisdiction; (3-31-22)

e. Filing of suit by Complainant in either state or federal court alleging the same unlawful practices as
the complaint. (3-31-22)

20. Notification of Closure. The Administrator will notify the parties of an administrative closure,
including the grounds for the decision, as promptly as possible. (3-31-22)

21. Decision on the Merits. Following approval of the summary by the Administrator, the
Commission or a designated panel of at least three (3) Commissioners will determine whether probable cause
(reasonable grounds) exist to believe that the Respondent has been or continues to be engaged in any unlawful
discrimination as defined in the Act. (3-31-22)

22. No Probable Cause. If the Commission or designated panel finds no probable cause supporting the
allegations of the complaint, the investigative summary, written decision, and order of dismissal will be issued by the
Administrator and sent to Complainant and Respondent, thereby closing the case. (3-31-22)

23. Probable Cause. If the Commission or designated panel finds probable cause to believe unlawful
discrimination has occurred, its written decision and investigative summary will be issued and served upon
Complainant and Respondent. (3-31-22)

24. Conciliation. After a Commission finding of probable cause, the Commission staff will endeavor
through conference with the parties to redress and eliminate the possible unlawful discrimination by conciliation.
(3-31-22)

25. Conciliation Agreement. If conciliation is successful, a written Conciliation Agreement will be
prepared that states all measures to be taken by any party, and, if appropriate, compliance provisions. When a
Conciliation Agreement signed by the parties is received, the Administrator will close the case. (3-31-22)

26. Failure of Conciliation; Commission Court Actions. If a Conciliation Agreement cannot be
reached, the Commission, at its discretion, will determine whether to file a court action in the name of the
Commission on behalf of Complainant. If it determines not to file such an action, the Administrator will close the
case and notify Complainant and Respondent. (3-31-22)

27. Notice of Right to Sue. When a case is closed, the Administrator will issue a notice of
administrative dismissal notifying the Complainant of such dismissal and of their right to file a court action within
ninety (90) days. (3-31-22)

28. Confidentiality of Records. The records of the Commission are confidential according to Section
74-105(8), Idaho Code. The Commission and its employees will not reveal information about a case to nonparties
except as may be necessary to conduct a full and fair investigation, or as required by law. All filings will be recorded
at the Commission office where records are kept. The Administrator is the custodian of records for the Commission.
(3-31-22)

29. Document Destruction. The Commission may retain closed investigatory files for three (3) years
from the date of closure at which time these documents may be destroyed at the discretion of the Administrator.
(3-31-22)