37-1-308. Unprofessional conduct -- complaint -- investigation -- immunity -- exceptions. - Montana Statutes

     37-1-308. Unprofessional conduct -- complaint -- investigation -- immunity -- exceptions. (1) Except as provided in subsections (4) and (5), a person, government, or private entity may submit a written complaint to the department charging a licensee or license applicant with a violation of this part and specifying the grounds for the complaint.
     (2) If the department receives a written complaint or otherwise obtains information that a licensee or license applicant may have committed a violation of this part, the department may, with the concurrence of a member of the screening panel established in 37-1-307, investigate to determine whether there is reasonable cause to believe that the licensee or license applicant has committed the violation.
     (3) A person or private entity, but not a government entity, filing a complaint under this section in good faith is immune from suit in a civil action related to the filing or contents of the complaint.
     (4) A person under legal custody of a county detention center or incarcerated under legal custody of the department of corrections may not file a complaint under subsection (1) against a licensed or certified provider of health care or rehabilitative services for services that were provided to the person while detained or confined in a county detention center or incarcerated under legal custody of the department of corrections unless the complaint is first reviewed by a correctional health care review team provided for in 37-1-331.
     (5) A board member may file a complaint with the board on which the member serves or otherwise act in concert with a complainant in developing, authoring, or initiating a complaint to be filed with the board if the board member determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that a particular statute, rule, or standard has been violated.

     History: En. Sec. 8, Ch. 429, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 475, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 375, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 492, L. 2001.